I love a good book.
What a ridiculous statement, right? Of course I love a good book.
But I mean it. There is nothing I love more than getting sucked into a great story; one that I can’t put down. One that I must finish or die trying. One that I wish would go on and on beyond the final page…
We went to the beach this past weekend, which was a wonderful treat for our family. We had about a 7 hour drive (one way) in the car, so I took advantage of it, loaded my Kindle with tons of choices, and ran by the bookstore before we left to get an actual paperback that had just released.
I am very thankful that God blessed me with the super power of lightning-fast reading. I read one novel on our way to Florida, another on our way home, and started a third.
My husband thinks I’m a freak.
But when I have uninterrupted reading time, I take advantage of it.
And because I had this uninterrupted time, I was able to dive right into the stories, uninhibited, focused, ready to be completely drawn into the story and swept away.
And I was. And THAT was my vacation.
And for all the time that I sit around thinking about my own stories, or plotting, writing, editing, fretting, proof reading, etc…
I remember that I love writing because I love reading.
Nothing inspires me as a writer more than a well-written novel.
I can remember the first novel that ever really drew me in–the one I read and re-read over and over because the story sucked me in like no other.
Call me crazy, but it was a Sweet Valley Twins novel that I read when I was about 9 years old. I loved it. Although I can’t remember the title (I could probably go dig it out of a box in my parent’s attic), I remember that the story was one where the twins, Jessica and Elizabeth, were pulled into some sort of fairy-tale dream world that they had to battle their way out of. It turned out that it was all a figment of one of the twins’ imagination (cliched ending, I know, but to a 9 year old, it was awesome).
I have been an avid reader since I was really young. Sweet Valley Twins, The Babysitters Club, the Christy Miller Series…
Detached from reality, I would lay on my bed and read and chew Bubble Tape until I went through an entire roll, sometimes before I finished the book. I did that with all the books I read.
And my passion for reading continues. But my snack choices have changed. I’m now into anything chocolate. M&Ms are a great choice.
When I read something good–something great, I want to create a story of my own that is equally as captivating, equally as challenging, romantic, historic, contemporary, equally as epic, funny, relateable, instructive, dynamic, nuanced, obvious, whatever…
The next time you need some inspiration or just an escape, pick up a good book. For suggestions, check out the “Reading” page above, where I’ve posted short reviews of the books I’ve read recently.
Share with Me: Do you remember the first book you ever read that really sucked you in; a book that you didn’t want to end? What’s your favorite snack to eat while reading?
Hale and Hearty Words 
The first book I ever read was Little House on the Prairie. Loved the series and still do. I read SVH as well, and I remember that book!
I remember loving Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis when I was in junior high. It's a retelling of the story of Cupid and Psyche. I bawled my eyes out and then had to read it again. Don't know if it would have the same impact now, but then — I loved it.
Stacy- I can't believe you remember that book! I figured that I was the only person on earth who read it… 🙂 That's awesome.Sherrie- It might not have the same impact now, but it left a lasting impression, right? I cried when I had to read Catcher in the Rye. But for a totally different reason. 🙂 lol.
I loved The Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley High books! I ran across this site one day – http://www.whatclaudiawore.com/
Mmm…Little House, Little Women, Where the Red Fern Grows (first time I cried), Island of the Blue Dolphins…LOVED reading, all my life. Glad you have too!
Julie- Awesome! I have to check that out.Lisa- Island of the Blue Dolphins– I had forgotten about that one!
The SV Twins book was called The Class Trip, I think. Does that sound right? If so, it was one of my favorites, too!
Em- You might be right, but I honestly can't remember.
I just looked it up, and I think you are right!
I used to curl up with a stack of books and a bowl of dry cereal (Cinnamon Toast Crunch.) My first book loves were the usual suspects: the Beatrix Potter books when I was very little, then the Little House series and The Chronicles of Narnia. (I really, really, really love Narnia and I want it to be real…though I suppose it is, in a way, what with the allegory and such. Like they say in The Last Battle, "It's all in Plato.")There is also a book that I ADORE called Mrs. Mike. No one I know under the age of 75 has ever heard of it, but I picked it from the school library in the fourth grade. Back then, my parents would pull me out of school for a week in November to take a family vacation (off-season rates!), so that book went with me to NYC, and I must have read it five times on that trip. When I got back, I was so sad about returning it that my grandmother bought a copy of it for me…after she had to special-order it because it's so old that no bookstores in Columbus carried it. My copy is now falling apart and held together by tape, but I still love it and read it at least once a year.
Wow! I've never heard of that one! I'll have to check into that, Lyndsey.