After binge-watching five seasons of "Gilmore Girls" and watching Rory Gilmore, a book obsessed journalism major, talk about her favorite books, I came to a shocking realization: I don't have a favorite book. Not only do I not have a favorite book, but I haven't read a quality book, on my free time, in what seems like forever. Sure, I have read classics like "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "1984", but I only read those books after they were assigned by teachers for school. When did I stop reading for fun? Growing up I was always a huge bibliophile, and I fervently read one book after another. I have so many fond memories of growing up reading my favorite books and no other feeling in the entire world could match the feeling I would get when finishing a favorite book. So, what happened?
Did I stop reading because I lost my passion for it? I know that when I actually make time to read, I very much enjoy it. But am I placing reading on the back-burner and instead choosing to watch Netflix and go through my social media? I am hardly blaming Netflix and Instagram for my lack of reading, but I know that spending time on these platforms certainly contributes to it. So, what should I do?
I've made myself a list. A list of 99 books that I want to finish, and I am only on book three, but I do feel as if I'm slowly regaining some of my passion for reading again. I'm currently reading "The Fountainhead", and I've started seeing a definite impact in my writing. Even though I've only been on my "Netflix Cleanse" for about a month or so, I've become more eloquent in my writing, and I actually feel as if I am using my time in a productive way. I am in no way saying that you should completely cut out time on the internet/Netflix, but making time to actually enjoy reading and enjoy learning will surely change you as a person.
I have yet to find my favorite book, but I have a feeling that I will find something that inspires me by the time I finish the list. I am three books down, and I know I have tons more, but I have begun seeing my list as more and more of something that I anticipate finishing. Nothing beats the feeling of reaching the last page of a book and knowing that I have changed and evolved, and in some cases, become a better version of myself. Although it is placing a lot of pressure on a book to make me become more self-aware, I am on a quest to find a book that changes my life, and hopefully for the better.
