Today is #WorldBookDay! I've loved books since I was a child, and that love for stories is what led to me becoming a professional author (that's why you never see me here, I'm always hanging out on my author blog.)
But even though I spend much of my free time writing, the book lover in me will never disappear. So I thought, what better way to celebrate the day of books than to share some of my favorite stories with you all?
I'm not going to ramble, so in no particular order, here they are:
Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park
Technically, I could put all the Junie B. Jones books here but this one holds a special place in my heart. It was one of the first books I remember reading as a kid and the humor mixed with the lessons the books taught were entertaining and moral at the same time. Too often in children's books, I felt like I was being preached to but the Stupid Smelly Bus was the first that didn't seem to talk down to the kids who read it.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Yes the SORCERER'S Stone, because I'm American and I can call the book whatever I want. I'll admit I never actually finished reading the Harry Potter series (will I ever get past Goblet of Fire?) because they got a bit too intense for me when I was younger but I don't think anything I say about Harry Potter will be anything new from what others have said in the past. The creativity and intricate world building from the series is something that is still mimicked in children's/YA fantasy books. The lasting impression it left on me as a writer is something that I'm proud of.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
My favorite classic! Reading this in high school lowered my enjoyment of the book initially. But over the next couple of years, I started thinking about it a lot and there were many things that it pointed out about society in the 20's that are still relevant in today's world and will be relevant for quite some time. It's true that everyone has that one classic novel that they don't hate as much as the others, but I think it's rare that a young person can find one that they actually like. I lucked out in being forced to read this by my annoying eleventh grade English teacher.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
I'm in the minority here but I actually like the PJO/Heroes of Olympus novels more than Harry Potter because even when things get dark, they're still fun and the books never take themselves too seriously. In a YA fiction world surrounded by doom and gloom, finding this series was like a breath of fresh air and reminded me that I could write and read the best of both worlds, and that there is still freshness to be found on bookshelves.
Epic by L. Taylor
I'm not saying this just because I'm the author (how self-centered would that be?)
I'm listing Epic because of all the things I've written, this (and the sequel, War) is the book that I can read over and over again and not get sick of seeing the same words constantly. The books that I've spent less time with (I've "known" 93% Chance I Don't Hate You for a year, I've "known TDKC for about two years) are technically newer to my ~reader self~ but Epic, which I've "known" for almost five years, is constantly gripping me and taking me on its rollercoaster ride even when I know what happens in the end. That's why I include it as one of my favorite books.
Legend by Marie Lu
If you know me, you know I worship the ground Marie Lu walks on, because not to be extra, but she is the best YA author in the game right now. Legend was the first book of hers that I read and the entire trilogy was perfect from start to finish. The Legend books have a very cinematic quality to them, which is something I love. If it's easy for me to visualize a story like it's happening right in front of me, it's easier for the book to completely suck me in. Every page of the series makes it even more impossible to put down and I can't express how much I love it.
Of course there are hundreds of books that I like but these are the ones that are at the top of the top for me. I want to read more than I have been in the past couple of years (guess who's way behind on her Goodreads goal) but balancing reading and writing is a struggle.
My own personal problems aside, if you haven't, I hope you give each of these books a chance and come to love them as much as I do.
Thanks for reading,
- L.
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