"So, what's your favorite book?"
"Um, well, probably..." My mind freezes. I stare at the questioner, my mouth open and my eyes slightly frightened. "I really like 'Pride and Prejudice,' but I think that 'The Book Thief' is good. I also like 'Sense and Sensibility.' Or 'Wildwood Dancing.'" I stammer through the list, wondering how I can choose my favorite book. Once they seem satisfied with my multi-faceted answer, I realize that I've left out the new book that I've just read - the one that I really liked and that I could say was a favorite.
Such a simple question. Such a hard answer. Asking a book lover, "What is your favorite book?" is like asking a parent, "Who is your favorite child?" It is near impossible to take these cherished pieces of your life, all beautiful and important, and allow room for only one. As an incurable addict to books, I have found that over time, my favorites hardly vary -- they generally remain the same. There are just those moments in books that slip into your heart and make a home. So, why is it so hard to choose one book that you love more than any other book? I've narrowed it down to three things; three things that we can all relate to and that apply to our own lives.
1. Timing
The first time I read "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, I was enchanted. The story of Elizabeth and Darcy, two proud people who struggle to admit their love for each other, became an inspiration for me. No longer was I enchanted by Prince William - I wanted to marry Mr. Darcy, and I wanted to be like Elizabeth. I was positive I would find my own Mr. Darcy and live happily ever after. But, I was thirteen years old when I read the story for the first time. As I have grown up, I've fallen in love (figuratively) with other male heroes from books. Each time I read a new book, I admire these men for different reasons. They capture my admiration at different times for different reasons.
Timing (a composite of age and greater knowledge) changes how I receive a book - and it also commits them to my heart. For example, I will always love "Curious George." He brought many happy moments to my childhood. Looking back however, the plot is simple and childlike - but it doesn't change the way I see it still: with a child's eyes that were full of curiosity and a heart that desired adventures.
2. Lessons Learned
Many books teach us a lesson and inspire us to greater things. "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte contains one of the greatest moral conflicts that I have ever read. That story shows the deeply personal fight between what one believes and what one wants. The powerful lesson contained within the story is timeless. Not long after "Jane Eyre," I read Man's Search for Meaning by Victor E. Frankl. This honest and open book about a man's experiences during the Holocaust and his determination to remain strong inspired me to make changes in my life, to see the world a little differently. It was one of the most powerful books that I have ever read. So, it joins the ranks as one of my favorites. But, I could never pull "Jane Eyre" off my bookshelf of favorites; all I needed to do was slide her over and make room for one more.
3. The People You Relate To
I can't talk to them, and I can't get advice from them, but I can relate to the characters I read about. There have been so many times where I felt like I could relate to a significant character and that changed my perspective of the book and endeared it to my heart. As I read the "Anne of Green Gables" series, I related to the main character, Anne. Now, we weren't exactly the same, but there were a lot of similarities. As I read, I felt like I was catching a glimpse of my own life from anothers perspective and it made me want to re-examine my life. Not only did I find someone to relate to, but I found some personalized advice. And this incident does not stand alone.
"What's your favorite book?"
Honestly, I could never choose. Why? I can never give up a single book that has shaped my life like the wind shapes a growing tree. Their influence can be seen in the way I stand tall and strong, in the words I choose, in the way I love. A tree, once grown, is very difficult to re-shape and reform. To say that one book shaped and formed me above all others would be a lie. Each gust of wind, small and insignificant as it may be, changes a tree. Thus, if I was to have to choose what gust of wind was the most influential and deny the rest, I would be denying the many influences that have shaped and molded me. And I would never choose to do that.
So, what's your favorite book?
