When I was little, I loved to read. I would read the same books over and over again until I practically had them memorized. The images, the words, the rhymes...they all stuck in my head and played over and over like a broken record. I bet I could still recall most of the words to The Very Hungry Caterpillar, or what the front cover of Madeline looks like. For me, reading became a pleasure at a very young age.
In high school, I'd find every excuse to read for pleasure. I would avoid algebra homework just so I could flip through a chapter or two of The Hunger Games. I used to wait in line at the bookstore every time there was a new Harry Potter book out. I mostly read fiction because made-up stories were much more fascinating than a true story. I enjoyed the fictional characters, plots, and even locations.
College is a stressful time and sometimes you need a quick getaway. I find that in reading. I find that I can escape everything that is going on around me when I delve into a good book. I find that I end up reading several chapters at a time of Harry Potter, when I had intended to read for only about 20 minutes.
Sometimes flipping through Instagram and Facebook over and over again just doesn't relax me. I like to get lost in a story, immerse myself in the characters, the dialogue, and imagine I'm going on an adventure with them.
No matter how old I get, I will always fall back in love with reading for purely for my own pleasure and entertainment. Whether it's in my apartment, on the beach, or on the porch in my Maine coast cottage, reading always helps me escape whatever is going on in the world around me. A book is a beautiful place to get lost in and go on a journey without having to leave the comfort of your bed.
