Thursday, May 31, 2012

Good books...

Good books not only spin a story for us to enjoy; they can also pull us so deep into the story that we eat cereal for dinner, forego the shower just so we can read one more chapter, go to work with wrinkled clothes and even forget to brush our hair.

Authors have such a unique view on life, the world around us, and what our souls truly yearn for.  They can make us laugh, cry, get mad, and even dream of being better human beings.  It's the best job in the world.

My list of favorite books I've recently read include: The Hunger Games, Starters, Airel, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Thirteen Reasons Why, The Shack, and The Unseen.

Yes, my favorite books right now are YA.  Why you ask?  Good question.  There are many reasons; I enjoy the different places they take me, the characters feel real and they grow so much from the first page to the last, the life they are exploring for the first time -- makes me feel young again  and yes, I don't have to worry about being surprised because something is just too strong for me to read...too strong for my heart and mind to handle. 

I know what you are thinking, Thirteen Reasons Why and The Shack are heartwrenching, but these were heartwrenching in a different way to me.  Thirteen Reasons Why- should make each person look at their actions and how they will affect someone else.  Poor Hannah.  One simple kiss snowballed into a twisted, ugly beast that she could no longer bear.  It makes me so happy to have taught my children not to believe everything they hear and to come to conclusions based on what they know and to always look out for the underdog.  The Shack on the other hand caused me to cherish my kids even more than I already do.  When they ask me to do something with them, I say sure...instead of I'm busy or in a few minutes.

Think about what the book made you feel the next time you finish one.  Has it changed you at all?  Has it made you view things differently?  Then the author did their job.

A tost to all authors!  May the ink in your printer never run dry!