Lesson from Thorin

I know it's been a while since I last posted. It has been one crazy semester. I have finally found a few minutes to sit and write about the Hobbit. So, without further ado, I'll tell you about a lesson from Thorin. It'll be short and sweet, but still important.

For those of you who have not read the book, Thorin is a dwarf prince without a home. In his childhood Smaug the dragon took over his home in Erebor. During the attack, the elves living nearby brought their army, but turned away when they saw it was a hopeless endeavor. Thorin's heart hardened toward any elves after that day and as a result will have nothing to do with any elves. This hatred is further incited when Thorin and the rest of the company are captured by the wood elves of Mirkwood, the very same elves who refused to help his grandfather in the attack on the lonely mountain.

Whenever Thorin is approached with the idea of wielding an elvish blade or seeking refuge with elves, even if they are not woodland elves, he refuses. Gandalf recognizes this and chastises him, saying that he is not his grandfather that the past is in the past and he needs to just let it go. Okay, so I may have pulled that last little bit from Disney, but who's counting ;-) The rest of it is what he said in a nutshell.

We can learn from Thorin's hate and unwillingness to forgive. He has the stubbornness of his people ingrained within him. For us, if there is someone who has wronged us in the past, we should be willing to forgive them and let bygones be bygones. Thorin slowly realizes this as the story comes to its climax. It's easier to hold a grudge and stay angry at someone for the rest of your life, but does that really make you happy? Thorin's pride and stubbornness kept him from gaining valuable allies; the hate he kept inside made him bitter and cold. Forgive and forget. You will be all the happier for it.

It's just one more week until the final installment in this saga comes to theaters. I hope y'all are planning to see it at some point.

Let me know what you think, if you agree or disagree. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Happy reading!

In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit...

Hello readers!

I know it's been a little while since I last posted. This past month has been hectic, between Midterms and Halloween and work. I'm ready to get back in the groove.

So, in case you haven't already figured it out, I love reading fantasy. It's my favorite genre to read. So it should come as no surprise when I tell you that, in honor of the new movie coming out in December, I'm going to talk about one of the best classic fantasy novels, the Hobbit. I will give a warning to those who have not read this book: this post may contain spoilers, so if you want to read it first, go read the book (it'll only take a couple of hours) and then come back. :-)

In a previous post, I talked about why I choose fantasy as my favorite genre, and why others choose it. One of the books I mentioned was the Hobbit. It is, in my opinion, the book that any fantasy reader should learn to read fantasy with, and the one fantasy adventure they should have on their bookshelf, no matter what.

So what is the Hobbit? Well, it is the story that kicks off J. R. R. Tolkien's most famous work, the Lord of the Rings. With fantastic (no pun intended) prose and magnificent imagery, we are introduced to the One Ring and how it came to be in Bilbo Baggins' possession.

It begins with the classic "In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit...", hence the name of this post. It is, perhaps, one of the most oft quoted lines by fantasy fans. Not too many pages past this line the reader is audience to an amusing exchange between Bilbo and Gandalf the Grey, discussing the logic behind wishing someone a good morning. For me, personally, it just introduces the reader to the sassiness that makes up part of Gandalf's personality.

In a sense, this story can be taken as a fable, or a story which contains a moral lesson. In fact, if you look at it with that view, there is more than one lesson to be learned from this adventure. The first lesson, and perhaps the main lesson to be taken away, is to be willing to step out of your comfort zone. The Hobbits of the Shire were a peaceful, nonadventerous people, and Bilbo was one of the most respectable Hobbits. So you can imagine that when he decided to go adventuring across Middle Earth, the rest of the Hobbits shook their heads and muttered about it for the entire year he was gone. They said, in not so many words, that he had lost his mind, that he was no longer respectable. This perception followed him into his later years, which you can read about a little in Fellowship of the Ring. But on this journey, he realized that a Hobbit can go on adventures and come home perfectly fine. In fact, he surprised himself and the dwarves he accompanied. It is constantly implied that those who come into contact with Bilbo are continually amazed at the courage of Hobbits. In essence, the take away is if you believe in yourself, you can surprise even yourself with what you can accomplish.

Well, that's all I have for now about this amazing book. As I was writing this, I was inspired to write about the different lessons that can be learned from this story until the movie comes out. So, check back every week or so until December 17, which is the date the final installment in the trilogy (I know, a trilogy out of one book?) is released in theaters.

In the meantime, I want to hear your thoughts about this book, or any of Tolkien's other works. Tell me what you think about this lesson to learn.

If you haven't experienced this story yet, stop what you're doing, turn the computer off, go find a copy of The Hobbit, and sit down in a comfortable chair with a cup of something hot and read. You won't be disappointed.

Happy reading! :-)

Agatha Christie?

Hello readers!

I recently introduced myself to the gripping world of Agatha Christie. Some of you are probably thinking "You're just now reading her? WHAT???" And with good reason. Agatha Christie is one of the best British authors of the 20th century. She earned the title of Dame of Great Britain just by writing her stories. Both books that I have read I found at this wonderful store called 2nd and Charles. Perhaps you've heard of it? I had some time to kill, and some store credit to use, so I picked up a few books that I thought it was high time that I read. Besides the two Agatha books, I picked up a beautiful copy of Thousand and One Nights for a very good price. (That's my commercial for the bookstore ;-) ) Anyway, on to my experience of exploring the world of this British Dame.

The first book of hers for me to read was Murder on the Orient Express. I picked this one up because I had seen a lot about it (there's even a video game based on it) and wanted to see what it was all about. Now, if you've paid any attention to my first post and the previous post, you would know that I enjoy mysteries. I knew Agatha Christie wrote murder mysteries, so I figured I'd give her a whirl. Granted, her stories are very different from Carolyn Keene's heroine, but they are still very well written. Murder on the Orient Express, obviously, takes place on a train. One passenger is mysteriously murdered while the train is stopped for weather. An inspector, M. Poirot, who just so happens to be traveling in the compartment next door to the victim, accepts the challenge to find the killer. I won't give too much away in case you have not read this story yet, so I shan't tell you who the murderer is. I can tell you that Agatha Christie gives a very surprising twist to the story. The direction the story takes as Poirot solves the case is so surprising, it almost made my head hurt! But, in the end, Poirot solves the case and finds his culprit. If you are looking for a good read for a beach trip or a road trip, or are just looking for something to keep handy just in case you have a few minutes to read, then this is the book for you. Depending on your reading style, you can read this book in a few hours or a few days. It all depends on how entranced by the story you become.

The second book, And Then There Were None, is shorter, but equally gripping. Ten people, each with a dark secret of their own, are invited to an island off the coast of the town of Devon. None in the party have met their host and hostess, but are eager to enjoy a holiday by the sea. However, once they arrive, they find only the groundskeeper and his wife. Their host and hostess are said to have been detained unexpectedly. The visitors enjoy their evening, speculating as to what could possibly be keeping their host away, and what his identity truly is. Then, after supper, the last thing anyone expects to happen, happens. One of their party suddenly drops dead while sipping his brandy. It is an apparent suicide, but the rest of the guests wonder why such a person would do such a horrendous thing to himself. Later that night, another occupant of the island is found dead in their bed, an obvious murder. Now the guests, among whom are a judge and a doctor, begin to wonder what, or whom, could have caused this person's death. The only problem is, they are the only ones on the island. Throughout the next days, they all begin dropping like flies, narrowing the list of suspects. The story continues in this manner until the last of the island's occupants dies, leaving the mystery unsolved. Agatha Christie takes a darker turn in this novel than she did with Murder. The story presents itself almost like a ghost story. She weaves a tale that is just creepy enough to set you on the edge of your seat and jump at any sudden noise or touch. But that is what makes this story so thrilling. It is only 200 pages, but you won't want to put it down. I managed to read it in an afternoon, and I regret nothing. I will say this about the book: it is not for the weak at heart or stomach. This is a story for the reader who wants to find a gripping tale that is a quick read and can provide a temporary escape from reality.

Well, that's it for now. I hope I have either reminded you of why you love to read Agatha Christie, inspired you to once again try her stories, or introduced you to a whole new story world. Either way, I feel I have done what I have set out to accomplish.

Have you had any experiences with Dame Christie? If you have, tell me! I would love to hear from you!

Until the next time!

Happy reading!

My Top Ten Books

Okay, so I was challenged on Facebook recently to post 10 books that have stayed with me from the first time I read them until now. This list was hard to come up with, because I have more than 10 books that have remained as part of my constantly read collection. But, after a few minutes of contemplation, I finally came up with a list, and have decided to not only share it with my friends on Facebook but to share it with my readers as well. So, without further ado, here is my list of 10 books which have stayed with me since the first time I read them.

1. The Bones of Makaidos - this is my all time favorite from Bryan Davis. It wraps up beautifully the story world of Dragons in Our Midst. I'll try to post more about this particular book and the story world in a later post.
2. The Chronicles of Narnia - if you paid any attention to my very first post on this blog, you probably will not be very surprised to see this on my top 10 list. Anyone who calls themselves a book lover has to have this wonderful series on their bookshelf. My copy just so happens to have a place of honor right in the middle of my bookshelf.
3. Nancy Drew - the Nancy Drew books are the second series for me to really read after I started reading chapter books. In my opinion, nothing beats a good mystery, which also just happens to be a quick and easy read.
4. The Witch of Blackbird Pond - I can't really find many words to describe this book other than to say that it is a classic that must be read by all who enjoy a good adventure/romance classic. Or really all in general.
5. The Magic Treehouse - ah, my first chapter books. I cannot tell you when I read my first Magic Treehouse book, but I can tell you that most of my library trips as a young girl consisted of finding the next book, or books, to read. Confession time: I still have yet to read every single one that has been published, as the author is still writing these adventures, and even now as a young adult I find myself checking bookstores and libraries just to see what the next adventure is and making plans to check out the ones I have not read.
6. The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy - this is the book that I asked my mother to read to me just about every single night. To this day I do not know why it appealed to me so much, but I loved that book.
7. The Hobbit - this is the first book by Tolkien that I read all the way through. It is somewhat of a quick read, since it was originally written for children, but it is still a great story.
8. Calico Captive- I found this book on the library's bookshelf while searching for a new story. I love to read historical fiction and historical romance, and this book combines the two wonderfully. The fact that it is written by Elizabeth George Speare makes it even better.
9. The Little White Horse - I don't think I have to explain this book very much, since I have practically poured out my heart about it in an earlier post. The only thing I can really say here is what I said on Facebook: A fairy tale set in England. What could be better?
10. White Fang- while I have not read the actual book, I have read the children's version of it, and thus am familiar with the story. I fell in love with it, and have made myself very familiar with it. It is one of my goals to read the book in its entirety at some point in my adult life.

So, that is my top ten list. I hope I have given some books that you have never read before and that I have inspired you to go find them.

Part of the challenge was to pass it along to ten other friends. Since I can't call out anyone in particular on here, I challenge everyone who reads this post to come up with their own list of 10 books and pass the challenge on to 10 (or more) of your friends.

I'd love to see what your top ten books are. Tell me in the comments!

Happy reading!

*UPDATED* DIY Book Canvas

I decided to get a little crafty for this post. I had a blank canvas and a couple of books that I had left over from a previous project (I'll try to post about that one later), and decided to combine the two. I've seen different crafts similar to this with sheet music or magazine pages, but never with book pages. So, I decided to create my own tutorial for book lovers. And now, without further ado, here is my project.

Supplies:

1 blank canvas (any size and shape will work; I used a 12X12 square canvas)
Book(s)  (the number depends on what variety of words you want on your canvas)
Mod Podge
Brush
Exacto knife (this is optional, I have found it makes it easier to tear the pages out cleanly)
Patience

Instructions:

1. The first step is to rip out your pages. I know this can hurt for a book lover, but once you reconcile to yourself that it is for art and you pull out a couple of pages, it gets a little easier to think about. This can be done one of two ways. The first way is the old-fashioned technique of taking a page and just ripping it out. The second way, which to my thinking is easier, is to take an exacto knife and slice along where the page meets the spine. This is faster, as it can remove several pages at once, and helps you take advantage of the entire page.

Once you're through with this step, you should have a stack of pages. As you can probably tell from the picture, I had a little too much fun slicing the pages out of the book. In retrospect, I only needed about 6 or 8 pages total to cover the entire canvas.

My stack of pages

2. Once you have your stack of pages, it's time to rip and have some fun! This is the most time consuming step of this entire project, not counting the time it takes to let the Mod Podge dry. What I did for this is I (carefully) ripped along the edge of each page so I would have ragged edges on each side of my torn pieces. This is a lot easier, in my opinion, than tearing each individual piece. You can do either, whichever you prefer to do.

After each page was distressed along the edges, I went to town ripping each page. After a few minutes of ripping, I finally stacked about 3 pages together and ripped them at the same time to save some time. I ended up with a nice little pile of ripped paper that I could then glue to my canvas.

3. Now is the fun step: gluing! This step allows for the most creativity. Pretty much all you do is start at the center of your canvas and work your way out, fitting pieces wherever they fit. You might have to rip some pieces a little smaller so they will work in a spot, but other than that this step requires very little effort.

 
When you get to the edge of your canvas, you can either cut the extra pieces off flush with the edge and finish it, or wrap the pages around,  which is what I did.

Once you're finished gluing all the pages to your canvas, you can either move straight to the last step, or embellish your canvas a bit. The sky is the limit as to what you can do here.

4. The final step for this easy project is the same as any other Mod Podge project. Keep adding layers of Mod Podge until it is smooth enough for your taste.  Once you are finished with the Mod Podge, you can either add hanging hardware or use the canvas' grooves on the back to hang it on a hook.

Here is my (almost) finished canvas. All it is waiting on is whatever embellishment I choose to do, and a hook to hang it on.

And there you have it! Easy wall art fit for a book lover's room. This would make a great gift for a reader, or just decor for your home.

If you decide to do this quick and easy project, send me a picture in the comments. I would love to see what my readers come up with!

Happy reading and crafting!

*EDIT* It's a little late in coming, but I thought I'd give a little inspiration for what to draw/paint over the pages if that is what you want to do. I used an inky style butterfly in the bottom left hand corner, with the bottom tips of the wings extending over the edge. Another idea that I considered is making several and drawing a large picture over all the canvases, or making a theme of some kind, maybe using symbols for your favorite book genres or symbols from book series. :-)

No Two People...

You may or may not have heard the saying "No two people ever read the same book." I feel that this definitely holds true for any book, even children's books. This can simply be due to differing mental images of what characters and places look like, or it can be attributed to the perspective brought to the book by the reader. Either way, the same book can hold a completely different experience for different people. This is just a small part of the reason why I love books so much. Even for me, the same book holds a completely different experience each time I read it.

Two people can read the same pages and have different opinions and take-aways from that page, just like two people see two different movies. One person can absolutely love the movie, and the other hate it and never want to see it again. That aside, a book can take two people on the same quest toward the same goal or destination, but each will experience a different journey. Part of this is each individual's personal life and what they are bringing with them into the story. They can bring personal experiences, preconceived opinions about the book or its topic, and preferences. One person can pull for the antagonist, while another can be endeared to the protagonist. It all depends on each person's personal preference and/or the author's writing style.

A friend and I both had to read the same book in high school, The Red Badge of Courage. I thoroughly enjoyed, but he cringes whenever the title is mentioned. Where he experienced a sad tale of a young boy playing soldier, I experienced a journey from boyhood to manhood, a journey of discovery. Granted, we both read it for two different classes, but the perception and the experience of the book is still the same. This same friend read Edgar Allen Poe in high school a year before I did. Again, there is a difference of opinion about the work, but this time it is reversed. He loves it and can't understand why I don't like it as much as he does. The stories are... entertaining, but I don't think I would ever pick up a copy of Poe and read it just because I have a few extra minutes and want to be creeped out.

The same can be said about The Chronicles of Narnia. I, along with most if not all of my friends, see Narnia as a metaphor for a spiritual journey as well as a great adventure. However, not everyone sees these classics the same way I do. I think what most people think of when they think of Lewis' works is a land of magic, mythical creatures, and adventure, which it is. I see it that way too. But that is as far as their experience with the book goes. There are so many more examples I could give about the different perceptions of books, but I won't go on.

Have you experienced anything like I have mentioned? Something different? Are there any books you think have different meanings for different people? I would love to hear your story! Please comment and tell me!

Happy reading!

Why choose fantasy?

Fantasy releases the imagination

 When one is trying to decide on a genre to read, they are overwhelmed by the vast number of choices. Some are predictable, such as any romance, and some throw curve balls where you least expect them, like mystery and dystopian. There are genres that are celebrated, as in the case of classics and poetry, and others that are looked down upon. One such genre is fantasy. There is no other genre that is as condemned by the literature elite as fantasy. For decades, it has been categorized as inconsequential literature, not to be taken seriously. It can be classified as the “genre of the impossible”, introducing ideas that are foreign to us today, even if they were well known in our history. This is part of what makes it so appealing to us, and why it has seen a rise in popularity in recent years. There have been numerous essays and papers written on why fantasy is so appealing to readers, and to young readers in particular. One of my favorite authors has stated many reasons why he believes young people choose fantasy so often. For girls, it is not always the longing to see a brave knight rescuing a damsel in distress. Rather, they want to see a heroine who is willing to come to her knight’s aid if he falls in battle. This heroine is often the girl they see within themselves, who they want to be. For the boys, it is a little more complicated. It is hardwired in them to be heroes, to be warriors that will protect those who cannot protect themselves. Reading fantasy inspires them to greatness and gives them heroes to look up to as an example. They want to be the heroes that they see in the mirror. Boys and girls, especially young children, want to see love portrayed in its purest form, as many are not shown that emotion at home. There is a lack of chivalry and nobility in our world today, and fantasy fills that gap for many. In fact, some of the best fantasy works that I have read involve a pure romance, battles between good evil, and warriors rescuing those who can’t help themselves. Not only is fantasy attractive to children and teens, it is also a favorite among adults. Like the younger generations, adults want to see the good that has been forgotten and seems to be nonexistent. In addition, it is almost always written to deal with issues that are looming at the time in which the book is written. For example, T. H. White’s The Once and Future King was written in the years preceding the Second World War. The author stated that the overall theme of his book was to explore alternatives to war.

Fantasy offers an escape from everyday life and the harsh realities of our own worlds, and places us in the middle of a new, completely different realm. In this new world, the author can choose to use places in our own history that we seem to have forgotten or take us to new lands  that can only be seen in our imaginations, in times that we do not know or have yet to know. We find unusual creatures, some based on the familiar, while there are others that our minds have never even imagined in any form. Among these creatures, there are wizards and elves, dwarves and fairies, and dragons and shape shifters. Within these different species there are those who possess magic, while the majority does not and are at the mercy of the powerful. Sometimes, the whole world has a sense of magic about it. Even though this genre has only been widely popular for a few decades, it has actually been in existence for centuries, with its roots in ancient mythology. In fact, many fears and stories within works of fantasy are based on old European superstitions. Some of the first pieces of fantastical literature include the Epic of Gilgamesh and Homer’s Odyssey. Obviously, our perception of what could be included in fantasy has changed over the past few centuries. Now, we see works like Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia, and the many works of Roald Dahl. One of the best known authors in the world of fantasy is J. R. R. Tolkien. He set the tone for modern fantasy in his famous work The Lord of the Rings. Many other authors have followed in his footsteps, creating other worlds and complex story lines.

I have read three out of the many books within this genre to explore the differences within this genre and to compare them to one another. My titles of choice were Inkdeath, the conclusion to the magical Inkspell trilogy, Stardust, the novel inspiration for the movie of the same name, and The Hobbit, which requires no explanation. Out of these three Inkdeath and Stardust are most alike, while The Hobbit stands by itself. In Inkdeath and Stardust, the greatest similarity is the relative ease of traveling between worlds. Granted the modes of travel are different, and one is more difficult than the other, but they are generally the same. All three books are similar in the variety of species that inhabit their pages. Each book has its own unique population, that’s for sure, but all three have only a few characters that possess some sort of magic while the remaining characters lack this gift. Inkdeath differs from the other two books by not having a quest as the main storyline. While its characters have a definite goal that they hope to accomplish, they do not have to travel great distances in order to do so; they simply must try to outsmart their adversaries. In both The Hobbit and Stardust, the main characters take a journey in order to complete a quest, whether that quest be helping to reclaim a mountain or bringing back a star. The prose used to write these two books is also remarkably different from Inkdeath. The first two use an older, more formal style of text, which is reminiscent of late 19^th century and early 20^th century writings, while the latter has a modern, more casual style. Depending on your personal preference, that can be an attractant or a deterrent. Since fantasy has such a wide range of characteristics and sub-genres, it is difficult to read two books back to back within this genre that are as similar as these are to each other. Of the three, I would most recommend The Hobbit. Not only is this book a classic, it takes readers on an incomparable journey. Simply put, it teaches readers priceless lessons, and can be read by a child or adult, making it the ideal choice for anyone wanting to venture into a fantastical world.

All these reasons, and more, are why I choose to read fantasy more than any other genre. Yes, I enjoy a good old fashioned historical romance or a mystery, but put a fantasy novel in my hands and you have made me a happy girl! I would love to hear your thoughts on this genre. Any other reasons why fantasy is a great genre to read? Or, if you don't prefer it, what are the cons to reading fantasy? Let me know in the comments!

Happy reading!

A Few of My Favorite Non-Classic Classics

Now that I’ve told you a little about myself and why I love reading, let me tell you about some of my favorite stories. These books are a few titles that I think should be labeled as classics. Probably the main reason I think these should be on the same shelf as Dickens, Poe, and Austen, is their stories are timeless. Many books that you read can have relevance for only so long before fading into obscurity. There is only a select few books that stay with you throughout your life. For me, these titles are among the many that I will keep on my bookshelf for years to come. So, without further ado, allow me to introduce you to some of my favorite non-classic classics.

1.  The Storyteller’s Daughter

This book is one of the most recent additions to my bookshelf outside of my normal fandom. I consider it to be what I call a gateway classic. What I mean by this, is it is a retelling of a well-known, well-loved, and often interpreted classic masterpiece, which sparked my interest in the original story. Just to keep you on your toes and keep the suspense up, I’ll wait till the end to tell you what the original title is, although I’m sure once I start explaining the story you’ll recognize it. ;-)

The story is about Shahrazad, a young woman who has a very interesting heritage. Her father is the vizier to the king, and her mother was Maju, the daughter of a fierce and proud people and also a great storyteller called a drabardi. Shahrazad’s mother died when she was very young. At her passing, the young girl inherited her mother’s gift of storytelling, but at the price of her sight. Years passed and the young girl grew into a young woman. This story is not only about Shahrazad, it is about the king as well. Not long before our story takes place, Shahrayar, which is the name of the king, had an unfortunate event befall him, leaving him without a queen. His heart was so grieved that he vowed to take a bride at every full moon and kill her the morning after their wedding night until he found true love. This is where our story really begins. Shahrazad offers herself as the first young lady to be the king’s unfortunate bride. However, she has a trick up her sleeve. The time comes for her to be presented to the king as his bride, and he takes her as his. Once they are alone, the storyteller’s daughter begins the greatest, most important story of her life, enticing a promise from the king that he will not kill her until her story is complete. She tells her tale in such a way that it cannot be completed within one night, thus saving her life. Every night she picks up her tale where she left off the previous morning. Soon, the people begin to suspect and treachery is unleashed within the palace. Shahrayar and Shahrazad, who by this time have grown to love one another, are separated. Soon, the storyteller is called forth to be tested beyond her physical ability.

I know that seems an abrupt place to leave the description, but if I were to go any further, I would give away the ending. Knowing how much many book lovers abhor spoilers I will refrain from ruining the book. If you really want to know what happens, well you’ll have to read it yourself. And, in case you haven’t already guessed, this book is a retelling of the classic One Hundred and One Nights. As I stated before, it is the perfect gateway classic to entice readers to explore the pages of the classic masterpiece.

2. The Little White Horse

I really don’t know where to begin for this book. It’s got everything you want in a classic fairy tale. It has suspense, hints of magic, new friends, fulfilled prophecies, and, best of all, romance. It has just enough whimsy to carry you away to a new world within our world for a little while, but still keeping enough reality within its pages to keep you grounded. There is not much that I can say about the story without giving too much away.

When young Maria Merryweather arrives at Moonacre Manor, she has no idea that her life is about to change. Whether for the better or the worst, you’ll have to read and see for yourself. When she finds out from her uncle, Sir Benjamin, that her family has been the subject of a prophecy, she sets out to do what she can to fulfill it and bring peace to all involved. Along the way, she meets new friends in the local village, including an interesting cat named Zechariah. Among these acquaintances, she finds an old friend named Robin. She even helps to settle a generations old dispute. Throughout her adventures, she learns some important lesson. While there are many teachable moments within this story, the most important one is when she learns to set aside her own interests in order to help others achieve their desires.

This book is one for the young and old alike. The story is timeless and never loses its character. Along with Maria, the reader learns a few lessons along the way. We learn to have the willingness to follow your heart, take a stand for what you know is right, have the courage to face your fears, and above all to be willing to set aside your ambitions to help someone else achieve theirs.

3. Room in the Heart

This story opens in pre-World War II Denmark. I find this particular story to be unique out of all the World War II books I have enjoyed. It follows two main characters, telling the story from their points of view, as well as three supporting characters who are no less important. Our two protagonists are Julie, a Jewish teenaged girl, and Niels, her best friend’s brother and a loyal patriot. As we make our way through the book, we follow both teens in their struggle to make sense of the new Nazi regime and what it means for their country, their families, and them individually. Amid all the chaos and confusion, a romance begins to blossom between these two, although neither is brave enough to admit it. Then, to everyone’s shock, comes the fateful order for the roundup of Jews. It is now that friendships are tested, loyal Danes are called upon to help their friends and neighbors escape the nightmare that is a concentration camp. Julie and Niels find themselves racing against the clock and the law in order to keep their loved ones safe.

Yes, I know there are hundreds, if not thousands of books out there set within the Holocaust. Most of these are on many school reading lists, from The Diary of Anne Frank to The Devil’s Arithmetic to The Hiding Place. This subject seems to have been exhausted. Yet we still read these stories of love, nightmares, betrayal, hope, despair, and discovery. This story stands out to me in a way that others do not, for a reason not even I can say. Maybe it is the romance, it could be as simple as the perspectives given. Whatever the reason, this book should be considered a classic or at least on school reading lists.

These are just a few of my favorite books that I believe are worthy of the “classic” categorization. You may or may not agree with this list, and that’s okay. In either case, I hope I have added a few more titles to your “To Read” list. I would love to hear what you think. Feel free to leave your own list of books you think should be considered classics in the comments below! :-)

Happy reading!

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Tumnus.

Okay, my name isn’t Tumnus, but I couldn’t help myself. My name is Catherine. I am a self-proclaimed book nerd, which is why I decided to embark on this journey called a blog. Before I begin telling you about books and how much I love them, let me tell you a little bit about why I love to read.

My mother taught me how to read at the ripe young age of four years old. Once she showed me that words can tell a story, I was hooked. I have had a book in my hand ever since. The books that have carried me through so many seasons of life have ranged from Nancy Drew to Narnia to Eragon, and practically everything in between. Over the years I have been transported to many new worlds and have met many new friends. Many would classify me as a Class A introvert, but I tend to think of myself as an international, interdimensional time traveler.

Through these magical portals I have visited Terabithia, Narnia, Alagaesia, and so many other new and exciting worlds. Within these worlds, I have learned so many lessons. While in Narnia I learned to believe in what seems impossible, in the unseen; have the courage to find the queen within me; and friendships are found in unexpected places. Terabithia taught me that it is okay to use your imagination and to be unique. Nancy showed me that giving up is never an option. These lessons and more have been ingrained in me because of my love for reading.

While I have read many books that are considered classics, such as The Hobbit, Treasure Island, and Sherlock Holmes, I have enjoyed still more that should be considered classics. These titles include The Little White Horse, The Storyteller’s Daughter, and Room in the Heart, just to name a few. My mother didn’t place a high priority on me reading the greats of literature. She believes, and I share this belief, that a child who reads books that they choose, and are not chosen for them, will have a greater love for reading than a child whose books are chosen for them. So instead of assigning books for me to wade through, she simply suggested titles that she loves and took me to the library to choose for myself what my reading material should be.

I could go on and on about why I love reading and why I think everyone should read. I don’t want to bore you too much, so I won’t keep going. In future posts I hope to share more with you about my love for literature, suggest new titles and why I think they should be read by everyone, and my general opinion about books.

Happy Reading!