Hey, everyone! First of all, I apologize for not posting the past couple of days, and this post being sort of late in the day. Wanna know why I’ve done this weekend/in the past few days I haven’t posted? SQUAT. I’ve been really lazy lately, and procrastinating nearly everything, but today was actually pretty productive.
Anyway, today I thought I’d talk about my favorite books, but a little differently. I thought I’d talk about why my favorite books are my favorite books. (Because if I shared all of my favorite books, this post would be a five part series, ha!)
You see, I’ve loved books since I didn’t even know how to read. In fact, there’s a whole page in my baby album with pictures of me reading books – with my parents, grandparents, by myself. When I got older, I’d make up the story to go along with the pictures in books and “read” them to my parents and stuffed animals! I’ve been a story teller even before I could read words. You could say I was born with a passion for stories.
I especially love stories about people. That doesn’t mean I don’t read the occasional book about an animal every now and then… (Like Janette Oke’s Animal Friends books or Charlotte’s Web, and my all-time favorite, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?) But I love reading books about young girls like me, or their grandmothers and great-grandmothers. I like books where a person goes on a long journey or adventure – not like outer space adventure, like a personal, deep adventure to find out who they are. Books like Coutdown, Out of my Mind, Counting by 7’s, Interrupted, Waiting for Normal. I know I sound rather dramatic, but I yearn for books like those.
I also know this sounds silly, but I LOVE, love, love books that make me cry. Because life is full of tears. (When your friend hurts your feelings, or when you get an unfortunate white elephant gift and you have a meltdown over not getting chocolate… lol!)
I love reading about experiences and people I haven’t met or experienced. Of course, I still hope to experience new things and travel to new places and meet new people. Like Benjamin Franklin says, “Either write things worth the reading or do things worth the writing.” 😉
Here’s a list of my favorite books! I definitely recommend them all!
- Interrupted by Rachel Coker
- Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield
- Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards
- The Family Tree series by Ann M. Martin
- A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin
- A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff
- Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
- Penny From Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
- The Giver by Lois Lowry
- Countdown by Deborah Wiles
- Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor
- Wonder by R.J. Palacio
- The Mother/Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick
- The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine
- Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
- The Candy Makers by Wendy Mass
- The Fences Between Us by Kirby Larson
- Faith, Hope, & Ivy June by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
- The Main Street series by Ann M. Martin
The Giver. 0.0
That is one of my favorite books ever. I’ve already reread it a couple times in the past few years and never get bored of it.
I was so excited when they came out with the movie. That’s one of the first movies where they actually followed along with the book pretty closely, and I felt like the changes they made improved it.
I was really excited, too! I actually heard about the movie before I decided to read the book, but the movie was just as good as the book, which is a rare thing to say. I kind of liked that they made the kids older. It made for more dramatic scenes, but in a good way. 🙂
Ok, for most of this post, I was thinking:
Yeah, ok. That’s neat. Wow. Cool. Ah that’s a funny little saying.
I was kind of reading on autopilot, like our third grade teachers all told us not to do. *wink, wink* 😉 And then, even though I am the avidest (is that a word??) reader I know, aside from my best friend, it was only actually when I read the line
“Because life is full of tears. (When your friend hurts your feelings, or when you get an unfortunate white elephant gift and you have a meltdown over not getting chocolate… lol!)” I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND!!! I TOTALLY CONNECTED!!!!I won’t name any names, but when I was in fourth grade, a certain person stole a certain rightfully mine gift I won in the annual white elephant exchange, and it was the only actually good present there! I haven’t recovered yet.
Lol! I’m glad to know I’m not alone! 😀 Yep. It was a pretty traumatic experience for me, too. Haha!!!
I, too, think I was born for books and storytelling. I’ve been through many hobbies over the years, some of which have stuck, and others of which have faded away, but writing and reading have always played a huge role in my life. Like you, I love books where a person goes on a deep journey, but I think that can totally happen in outer space, too. I used to think that sci-fi could be a little bit shallow, but I think Ray Bradbury does an amazing job at writing really deep and very nuanced sci-fi that explores the human condition.
I also loved reading Interrupted (and Chasing Jupiter!), The Book Thief, Countdown, Wonder, Ella Enchanted, and The Candy Makers, but I have yet to read Hattie Big Sky, The Giver, and The Lions of Little Rock.
Same here. I’ve done dance, gymnastics, and I did a year of flute at my school and now learning piano, which I do enjoy. But writing and reading have always been there.
I’m really not a big sci-fi fan. The closest I’ve gotten to “sci-fi” is The Giver, if you want to call it that, because it’s in a futuristic world. I don’t know, maybe I might be willing to give it a try someday.
You’ve got to read The Giver, Ana! From reading your blog, I think you would love it. The movie is great, too! The other books on the list you haven’t read are definitely worth the read, as well. 😉
This post was cool( tough I was very sad that we didn’t get a post on Friday)( you should totally do a bookshelf tour). I love books. I hate books that don’t follow the movie( percy jackson anyone?). Did the giver movie follow? People said there was a love trianlge. If you want a book that will make you cry you should read One for the Murphys. I like any kind of book. Sci phy, fantasy, contemporary fiction, realistic fiction, YA, MG, you name it.
I’m sorry I completely forgot to post! Last month I mostly typed up the posts ahead of time, and then scheduled them to post automatically. I really need to get in the habit of doing that this month.
The people who did The Giver did an amazing job keeping the story the same! The things they did change were actually very well-done, I actually liked that they made the characters a little older.
OMG, One for the Murphys has been on my list of books to read forever! Every time I see it in Barnes & Noble, I almost get it. When I got Counting by 7’s the other day (I’m almost done with it), it was right next to One for the Murphys. 🙂
Its allright I guess ;p.
Maybe I’ll watch the giver movie then. I was afraid to watch it.
You need to read One for the Murphys! I have an emotional attachmeant to it( I need to buy it!). When my grandma died I went to books for comfort. And I happend to get this one a few days before from the library. I just locked myself in a bedroom and read( not literly locking myself in a bedroom).
Oh I’ve been reading this good blog called from the mixed up files. It has GREAT MG recommendations and giveaways. You should check it out. I discovered the blog on Heathers blog just like how I discovered your blog!
I got Melanies Dickersons first book this week( along with many other great books) but I have not read it yet. I’m trying to finish my library books before I read my new books.
I LOVE THAT QUOTE!!! OMG I LOVE IT SO MUCH!
Ever since I frist saw that quote it’s stuck to me like velcro!
I’ve really been wanting to read the candy makers but I haven’t gotten around to it yet! *tear* and I hear such great things about it!
I know what you mean when you say you like books that make you cry, yesterday I read roadside assistance by Rachel Coker and it was the most emotional day for me.
Ever.
My parents say I’m really empathetic, and I can put myself in other people’s shoe’s really well. So when I was reading that book I was sniffiling and bawling like a baby! My family kept giving me weird looks, especially my sister!! And then when I thought everything was ok, and peachy keen…..I was thrown for another emotional loop. Have you read that book yet?
THANK YOU for the book recommendations!!! I’ve been needing some. 😉
I agree about loving stories about people! (Especially real people. I love realistic fiction!!) 🙂
I love ALL those books! Also, I love that quote. <3
Em’s your blog post are ALWAYS amazing! Am I the only one who loves the Mother Daughter book club By: Heather Vogel Fredrick ?
Thanks, Syd! No, you’re not the only one who loves the MDBC! I know several girls who comment on my blog love it too. I’m sure you can chat and talk about it all day long. Wait ’till the second book! 😉