What a Book Means to me

A book is a safe haven that I know I can always return to, whenever I need it. When I need some time to escape the craziness of my life, I grab a book from my closet or bookshelf and curl up in bed with my book and sometimes some tea and a cookie, depending on what’s really bothering me. I’d rather have the book in front of me, or close by me, instead of on an electronic device. I’d rather read a book in the same fashion now as I did 11 years ago when I first started reading. A book that you can physically hold in your hand is like the old family pet that you know will be at home when you get home.

There’s always the one book that I have to read over and over again because it means so much to me. Whether it’s Alison Sweeney’s All the Days of my Life (so far!) or A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks, I would rather read them in the same form as I read them for the first time, in actual book form and not from an electronic device. To me, they seem a little impersonal. If people see me reading a book, I don’t mind if they come over and ask me what I’m reading. I feel that if I read from a Nook or Kindle, people may not come over and ask me what my opinion on the book, or even what book I’m reading.

A book should be something that gets read for enjoyment; unless it’s a book I have to read for English class. But even then some of those books area good. To Kill a Mockingbird and Catcher in the Rye have been two of my favorite books that I’ve read from classes. And I know that I’ll have them forever, in actual book form and not on a Nook or Kindle.

So basically, books are a constant in my life. And for people who like to read from a Kindle or Nook, keep in mind that technology changes. But through multiple technology changes, actually holding a book in your hands to read has been there the whole time. The book is the family dog, waiting for its owners to come home.

Why I Read

Ever since the first time I read a book (sometime in first grade with an elephant, that's all I remember), I couldn't put them down. I love to read and I always need that little time to myself where I can sit back and relax with a good book. It’s a time that I can have to myself and, most of the time; my family can just leave me alone.

Books seem like they’re always going to a part of life, whether it’s electronic or hand-held. For me, personally, I like holding the books in my hand, especially if it’s a new book and has that new book smell. There’s something about the way a new book looks and feels when I hold it in my hands, anticipating the first few pages of the book. That’s the most exciting part of reading for me. The thrill of the new book.

Books provide the entertainment I need when I'm in the car, or just waiting for something to happen, for a few hours. On a car ride to my grandparent’s house in Cleveland, I almost always bring a Nicholas Sparks book. By the time my mom's car makes it to the exit on the highway, depending on the size of the book, I’m done, or halfway through the book. Or, while waiting for a dance competition to end, my teammates know that I’m huddled in the corner of the dressing room, iPod on, and a good book in my hand.