My First Love

Books were my first true love. Before I had discovered dance, Pinterest, the snooze button on my alarm clock, or a certain comedy show about six friends finding their way in New York City, I uncovered the worlds of the Bernstein Bears, Anne of Green Gables, and Laura Ingalls. I trekked through the wilderness with Jack London. I partied with Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. The prairie became my home and the Ingalls my sisters. Books allowed me to escape from the real world. I was able to travel to any time or any place without having to leave the comfort of my living room couch. My summers were spent curled up with a book, (or five) while my fair Irish skin avoided the burning UV rays of the sun. My mom didn't threaten to take away my cell phone when I was being defiant; she would take my book. Many times, I would emerge for breakfast with dark circles under my eyes, but a satisfied smile on my face. My parents would look at me and say, "how late were you up this time?" After I responded with an answer usually in the range of 2-4 AM they would sigh and remark, "well, did you finish it?" The answer was always yes. Books are my drugs and the library is my dealer. 

As I grew older, books became an even more important part of my life. Reading for school was never a burden. In fact, school introduced me to some of my most favorite stories. The love of Jean Valjean and his willingness to live a righteous life; watching Scout and Jem grow up in the troubled South and seeing them realize that every life is valued; even the metamorphosis of Gregor taught me valuable lessons. Books have opened my world up in more ways than I can count. 

Whenever I read a book, I have the incessant urge to tell people about it. Anyone really. My brothers, parents, friends, or even random people I stumble upon in libraries or Starbucks. If I see them reading a book, or looking at a book, and I have had an experience with it, I must tell them how I felt. Now, this can become a nuisance, I know. Thankfully, my best friend shares the same love of reading that I do, because my family often does not want to hear about the latest YA novel I finished. (This is not to say that my family hates reading; they just don't always enjoy my constant blabbering about reading. Lucky for them though, I go to school in a different state so they don't have to deal with it as much these days.) It is because of this desire to share my literary experiences with others that I have decided I am going to do book reviews on here. Hopefully I will introduce you to some new reads and, if you have any suggestions or find yourself yearning to share your experiences with a particular novel, please let me know! I love when I get recommendations for new things to read! Well, now I have exposed you to my first love, and at times my only. I find that we make quite a lovely pair. Please come back to see what we're up to!  

xoxo,

Ciara