I love books. I am a total bookworm. My bookshelves are
full. I am always searching for a new and interesting book to read. I am always searching for cheap and sturdy bookshelves. I visit
local libraries, though perhaps not as often as I wish I did.
I spend a lot of time reading my favorite genre, young adult
fiction. I love how accessible it is, and the creative and fantastical journeys
the characters go on. I love seeing the world through their eyes, learning
lessons with them, and taking every step of their adventure as they do. It may
not be the most fashionable for a grown woman to be reading books meant for
kids, but here is my philosophy: it doesn't matter what audience the book
you're reading is aimed at, so long as you are enjoying yourself while you read
it!
My favorite author is Diana Wynne Jones, a woman that wrote
over forty books in her forty year literary career, and who, sadly, passed away
back in 2011 from cancer. When I found out, I cried for days. Let me tell you
why.
Her books reached me as a child in a way that was totally
new to me. I had enjoyed books, being taught to love reading by my parents and
two older siblings. I spent so much time at the library in Sharon Springs, New
York, that I even won a savings bond from them. Books were a way for me to
connect to the world in a way I felt I couldn't when pages weren't in front of
me. The first book I read of hers, brought to me by my father, was Howl's
Moving Castle.
I adored it. It's my favorite book to this day, and that
book led me into the dynamic, magical, and multifaceted worlds that Diana
created with paper and ink. Her books are most often marketed to young adults,
though she has written in a variety of subjects and mediums. I am ashamed to
admit that I haven't even read half of the things she wrote. It is a life goal
of mine to collect and read, cover to cover, multiple times, all of her works.
I have chronic abdominal pain from endometriosis which has
be bedridden a couple times a month, and I am never without one or four of her
books when I feel my worst. Her books offer such a comfort After all, if Sophie
could handle being old for so long, I bet I can handle this.
One of the things I love the most about her books is that
nothing is superfluous. Every single word matters and is there, right where it
is, for a reason, and a very good reason at that. Not a single word is there
for filler, not a single syllable is an accident. Every single detail is
essential to the story or creating the many worlds of her numerous stories. I
have taken that thought into my everyday life, understanding that no detail of
the world around me is an accident. Not that stray cat prowling for hidden
rodents, not the plastic bag flying behind the grocery store, not the
advertisement with a boot print on the sidewalk- everything is there for a
reason, and there is a story behind all of the details which create our world.
It is those details that cannot be taken for granted if we are to make the
world a better place. I take the same stance when dealing with people. Every single person matters, and I hope to help encourage all of those people to pick up books, read until their heart is content, and learn as much as possible!
I believe Diana left the world a more magical place than she
found it, simply by gifting the world her profound imagination and bountiful
stories.
I only wish I could achieve a fraction of what she did. If I
can impact one person in the way she impacted me, I will consider myself a
success.
Now, for the reason for this blog. I want to help encourage
reading in as many people as possible. I don't want anyone to feel ashamed for
what they're reading. Whether you're a teenager reading a book meant for young
children just learning to read, or a school child reading beyond the level of
those around you, never apologize for reading, and never apologize for what
you're reading (unless you're reading your sibling's diary- try to stay out of
that!)
I would love for everyone with a favorite book to write in
to me about it. Just because there is a book I didn't much care for doesn't
mean that it is a bad book! I want to encourage people to read as much as they
can, not discourage anyone from reading something simply due to my own
preferences.
As far as what you can expect from this blog, I will be
putting in reviews of various titles and genres. I won’t only be focusing on
young adult fiction, though there will be plenty of that as it is my favorite
genre. I will also be keeping up with new and upcoming titles, writing author
profiles, and making list articles.
Currently, I am reading Reflections: On the Magic of
Writing, with a forward by Neil Gaiman and introduction by Charlie Butler, both
of which had the honor of knowing Diana through their mutual profession. It is
a collection of essays, interviews (including her last), literary criticism,
autobiographical details, and discussions about the origins of several of her
books. At this moment, I have only read the forward and introduction.
I have cried every couple of paragraphs, first and most
prominently at Mr. Gaiman's description of Diana, which perfectly fit how she
had always been in my imagination, right down to her laugh. I won't spoil
anything about the book because I want everyone to read it, but I promise to
write more about it later as I finish reading it. And let's be honest, that
probably won’t take more than the weekend because I have a habit of not letting
her books go until I finish them.
Speaking of which, I've been away from my book for too long. I’ll be back to the realm of the living as
soon as I finish this last chapter…
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