Sometime during the last week my AP English Literature teacher said, "Who in this class reads for pleasure and fun? Raise your hand if that applies to you." And to my surprise, less than half the class raised their hands.
Now, I'm not sure if the lack of hands raised was due to shyness or not bothering to listen to the question, but I was taken aback by the lack of reading people do outside of school. Personally, I try to fit in reading books other than school ones whenever I have time, but due to my senior year being hectic and packed I haven't had as much time as I wish I had. I am a complete book worm; I love to read, and my parents have even told me numerous times that when I was a little girl they would find me sitting by my nightlight in the dark in the late hours of the night, reading. I still do that today too; I lay in bed reading a teen romance novel (my favorite type of books) at around 10 pm, only looking up to realize hours have passed and it is now 3 am the next day.
I just wanted to make a list of all the books that have had an influence on me and share them with you all in case any of them catch your eye.
1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - I first read this novel in San Diego around 2 years ago, before I knew this book was a huge success. I strictly remember picking it up on a whim and reading it in the hotel room, only to find I couldn't tear my eyes away from the pages. This novel was eye opening for me; the great detail of the illnesses that Hazel and Augustus face in their young lives accompanied with the budding love between the two characters really drew me in, and there were so many times when tears welled up in my eyes due to the variety of emotions the book holds. It is a wonderful reads and taught me to always love the life I am living and embrace its beauty.
2. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison - No, this is not a story about a man that is literally invisible. This novel tells the story of a black man who leaves his Southern roots and moves to the North, where he experiences extreme racism, name calling, and the like. The blacks are treated as the backbone of society, a society in which the white people are the majority and superiority, and the blacks are the slaves and are rendered useless. The narrator, a black man, is perceived by the whites as being "invisible," and that invisibility coupled with the narrator's struggle to find his true identity leads him to make choices that both hurt him and lead him on the pathway to finding his place in society.
3. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen - This novel describes the life of Auden, a teenager who lives her life through the nighttime. Ever since her parents' divorce Auden has been unable to sleep, going to a local cafe every night to get away from her own lifestyle. When she goes to her father's house for the summer, it is not what she expected. Besides dealing with her father's new wife and baby, Auden struggles to fit in with everyone around her. However, when she meets Eli she begins staying up with him, and their relationship develops as they spend each night together.
Now, I'm not sure if the lack of hands raised was due to shyness or not bothering to listen to the question, but I was taken aback by the lack of reading people do outside of school. Personally, I try to fit in reading books other than school ones whenever I have time, but due to my senior year being hectic and packed I haven't had as much time as I wish I had. I am a complete book worm; I love to read, and my parents have even told me numerous times that when I was a little girl they would find me sitting by my nightlight in the dark in the late hours of the night, reading. I still do that today too; I lay in bed reading a teen romance novel (my favorite type of books) at around 10 pm, only looking up to realize hours have passed and it is now 3 am the next day.
I just wanted to make a list of all the books that have had an influence on me and share them with you all in case any of them catch your eye.
1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - I first read this novel in San Diego around 2 years ago, before I knew this book was a huge success. I strictly remember picking it up on a whim and reading it in the hotel room, only to find I couldn't tear my eyes away from the pages. This novel was eye opening for me; the great detail of the illnesses that Hazel and Augustus face in their young lives accompanied with the budding love between the two characters really drew me in, and there were so many times when tears welled up in my eyes due to the variety of emotions the book holds. It is a wonderful reads and taught me to always love the life I am living and embrace its beauty.
2. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison - No, this is not a story about a man that is literally invisible. This novel tells the story of a black man who leaves his Southern roots and moves to the North, where he experiences extreme racism, name calling, and the like. The blacks are treated as the backbone of society, a society in which the white people are the majority and superiority, and the blacks are the slaves and are rendered useless. The narrator, a black man, is perceived by the whites as being "invisible," and that invisibility coupled with the narrator's struggle to find his true identity leads him to make choices that both hurt him and lead him on the pathway to finding his place in society.
3. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen - This novel describes the life of Auden, a teenager who lives her life through the nighttime. Ever since her parents' divorce Auden has been unable to sleep, going to a local cafe every night to get away from her own lifestyle. When she goes to her father's house for the summer, it is not what she expected. Besides dealing with her father's new wife and baby, Auden struggles to fit in with everyone around her. However, when she meets Eli she begins staying up with him, and their relationship develops as they spend each night together.