“I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book.” - J.K. Rowling
If you are anything like me, reading has been a huge part of your life. I can distinctly remember the day I read a book all the way through, by myself, for the first time. It’s one of my first memories. Ever since that day, my life has not been the same. I have read hundreds of books over the course of my life, and have no intentions of slowing down. It makes me sad to see so many kids playing video games or texting, rather than spending time reading. There are so many lessons that one can learn through the magic of books. I know that I for one have gained so much knowledge just by reading the books I have read. Here are a few of my favorites:
1. Harry Potter
Albus Dumbledore, speaking truth once again. This is one of my favorite quotes of the whole series. It has been especially encouraging to me in this past year. There have been so many dark times across our world in the past few months. This quote has reminded me that there is still happiness in hard times, and sometimes it's as simple to find as simply turning on a light.
2. The Fault in Our Stars
Let's be honest, The Fault in Our Stars has an unbelievably high number of life-changing quotes. This one really gets me though. Not one of us has had a perfect life with no pain. All of us have gone through a period of grief. It is so easy in times like those to want to change who you are, in hopes that the grief will go away. John Green teaches us that it is actually the opposite of that. When we go through times of grief, our true selves appear. We aren't afraid of what others think, we just live.
3. Me Before You
Even though Will Traynor takes everyone's heart, throws it on the ground, and steps on it, he still gives some wisdom throughout the book. I think this is one of the best lessons I have learned through reading. It is so easy to get caught up in our everyday, monotonous routines, and just go through the motions. Because I read Me Before You, I almost always have this quote in the back of my mind when I find myself getting bored or tired of doing the same thing over and over again. We truly only have this one life to live here on earth. Why wouldn't we want to live it to the fullest. So go conquer your fears, go travel the world, go do the one thing you've been wanting to do your whole life. Go live.
4. The Selection
None of us are perfect. We are all flawed. We all have things about us that we don't like. We've all gone through rough times that have left us hurt. We all have scars. Kiera Cass made me realize that it is OK to have scars. They are normal. The best of us have them.
5. The Hunger Games
If there is one thing that Katniss Everdeen represents in The Hunger Games, it is hope. She is the only hope that most of the people in the districts have. They are under the thumb of a horrible ruler, and they have no idea how much longer there will be peace. Unfortunately, that is easily relatable to our country these days. There is so much fear. Fear for now and fear for the future. What are we bringing the next generation into? There is one way to conquer that fear. Hope. We can hope, and pray, for your countries deliverance, that is all we can do. When we hope, it overshadows the fear.
There are so many other wonderful lessons to be learned from books. If any of these lessons/quotes interest you, I advise you to read the book. You won't regret your decision.
