I devour books. Like, nearly swallow them whole because they taste so good and I can never get enough, devour. It’s true, I have always been this way, and it’s gotten to the point where reading is sometimes a bummer because I know it’s going to end a lot quicker than I want.

I have fallen victim to a lot of popular series and books over the years. The Babysitters Club, read them all, four times. Does anyone remember the Scholastic Book Club at school? Oh yeah, when that newspaper thin packet would come, I would go through everything a million times calculating my money and wondering how to ask my parents for more. I don’t know why, but I have always been addicted to books. The smell of the pages, not being able to stop reading on an odd number chapter, telling myself “just one more”. I have never judged books by covers, but rather by the description on the back. If I am not hooked by that one tiny paragraph, back to the shelf it goes, and on to the next.

My affinity for Twilight is no secret. As anyone who has actually read all four books will tell you, you just don’t understand until you’re in it. Jeremy asked me last night what it is about the story that makes girls go crazy, and it took me a minute to respond. It’s different for everyone, but I mainly think that it’s the fact that Edward loves Bella so completely. The idea that there is someone out there who can love us, flaws and all, and find us perfect despite ourselves…it’s that weird secret dream of most girls. For me, it’s always been the magic of it. The “maybe” and “what if” moments, because feeling like I’m part of something bigger makes me feel…hope.

I also have a passion for Dan Brown. The DaVinci Code, Deception Point, Digital Fortress. I feel so nerdy for devouring those books, but they have always been so interesting to me, and his viewpoint is so thought out and intriguing. I know so many people who scoff at the mention of his name, and to those people I say, you clearly haven’t read them all. Nora Roberts is another favorite of mine, but for a completely different reason. Murder, mystery, nothing rooted in historical truth, or secret magic. She makes me turn pages, and stay scared in my bed. I suggest her to anyone who is just looking for something to kill some time.

However, my favorite book of the past few years has got to be Eat, Pray, Love. I did so much underlining, spent a lot of time looking inside myself, and again…felt that hope. I feel like that book became such a sensation because of the movie, and I’m sure a lot of people haven’t even bothered to read the book because of it. You miss quotes like this:

““People always fall in love with the most perfect aspects of each other’s personalities. Who wouldn’t? Anybody can love the most wonderful parts of another person. But that’s not the clever trick. The really clever trick is this: Can you accept the flaws? Can you look at your partner’s faults honestly and say, ‘I can work around that. I can make something out of it.’? Because the good stuff is always going to be there, and it’s always going to pretty and sparkly, but the crap underneath can ruin you.”

I could go on with this entry for days. Like I said, I devour. I wish I was in a Book Club, anyone want to start one with me?:)

Today, I am thankful for books and my ability to read. I am thankful that I can appreciate these things as I do, because so many people take them for granted.

“Don’t ask who’s influenced me. A lion is made up of the lambs he’s digested, and I’ve been reading all my life.”