If you’re a book lover like me, you can probably remember some of the most important books in your life. They might be books that made you figure out how much you love reading or books that got you through a tough time. I grew up in household where reading was encouraged. My mom used to read to me every night before I knew how to read and my dad would read me funny books and imitate voices. I always loved stories and wanted to discover more but learning to read for me was hard. It took much longer than it should have and I remember wanting to give up because it just upset me so much that it was difficult. Eventually it got worked out. After my long struggle with learning how to read I figured out how much I loved it because of "Matilda" by Roald Dahl and "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke.
I was in a bit of a reading slump when my mom got me "Matilda," not for the lack of books, but because my peers judged me on how much I read. I wanted to step away from it to get rid of the teasing because it hurt and turning to books like I always did when I was teased was only going to make matters worse. I guess when my mom saw the plot about a little girl who loved to read and then had magic powers to deal with her tormentors, it was a logical fit. I devoured the book and reread it constantly, hoping I would gain magic powers (I got none). I connected with "Matilda" a lot especially when she said she had finished all the children's books and needed to find something else to read. I was a precocious child which also did not help with the teasing, thankfully I plateaued when I got older so I’m not so much of a snob. I think "Matilda" made me turn to books even more in times of need because I realized people would love me for me and anyone else didn’t matter and shouldn’t be able to take my happiness.
When I was a little older I found "Inkheart." I mean what wasn't to love about it for a budding reader? A father who encouraged his daughter to read and could bring characters alive and out of their stories just with his voice. I loved it! I loved the idea that stories continued for the characters even after the last page was read, that these characters were actual people that had the ability to go beyond what the author intended. This book is a dream for any bookworm and a gateway drug to other books since each chapter has an excerpt from another book. When I first read the book I wanted a library just like Aunt Elinor’s and honestly its still the dream. To this day, I still love this book and constantly reread it. It’s just kind of beautiful.
