Dear fellow reader,
If you could know me as a reader when I was a child, you would know that the "The Lightning Thief" from the "Percy Jackson & the Olympians" series heavily impacted the way I see the world. "The Lightning Thief" took Greek mythology—a world which didn't appeal to my elementary self—and transformed it into a setting that was entertaining, modern, and unique. Now, as a reader in the present moment, no matter what it is that I read, I can bring my own imagination to a world and turn it into whatever I want to see it as.
However, due to the heroic themes the plot displays, "The Lightning Thief" has, in a way, made me feel a bit self-centered, believing that the Earth rotated around me only. I have to constantly remind myself that everyone else's lives are just as important, that as a reader, I can use my own understanding and imagination to empathize with other people's stories.
"The Lightning Thief" was one of those books that I read over and over again. Every time I started reading, I would see things I hadn't noticed before; phrases that didn't register to me in the past. As a reader, not only did this encourage me to be a more careful reader, but to also to search deeper into the text before me.
Another series that was a heavy influencer was "A Series of Unfortunate Events." I actually haven't thought about the series at all recently until it was brought up again in class. As you might know, the series itself introduces a turmoil of struggles and obstacles for the three siblings, and was a huge hair gripper at times. It was the first time I've ever truly felt sympathy for a book's characters, to the point where I desired to intervene in the story and dictate its events.
I applaud Lemony Snicket for creating such beautifully tragic pieces of writing. I've grown to be much more expressive in my emotions because of this series, thus, as a reader, I become easily inspired and touched by a multitude of genres. For that, I am truly thankful to carry such a fragile and responsive heart due to my experience with "A Series of Unfortunate Events."
With these books in mind, the reader that I am today is a lot more careful and analytical compared to my childhood mindset. Being that way isn't a bad thing. In fact, it has led me to enjoy stories more because now I can perceive images and concepts better than I could seven years ago. In the past, I would consider myself to be easily entranced by stories, whereas nowadays I need to be captured by the book early on in order to continue with it. As a reader, I want to try my best to enjoy a book for what it is rather than always search for an ideal appeal for my own taste. I believe that every story carries great value, and for me to be able to attain that is to be more open to what's out there. I hope the books within my childhood and the reflection that I brought gives you a better sense of the reader that I am.
Yours truly,
JC
