Writers as Readers

1.  When I read, I do not require many things. For the most part, all I need is a book. I can sit in almost any chair, any couch, or lay in any bed and be comfortable as long as I have a book that can hold my attention. Preferably, I love to be in a big comfy recliner with my feet up, a blanket on my lap, hot cocoa on a table next to me, and silence. I like to have just enough light for me to see my book without straining, but I do not like it to be incredibly bright.


2. My favorite genre of writing is a book with a lot of action, but still a romantic back story. I love the book Delirium, and I also loved All These Things I've Done. Both of these books had a plot that was not entirely about romance, but it did have romance in it. I think I like these books because
e they seem more realistic when it comes to romance. In real life, your whole life does not revolve around falling in love- you still have other things to deal with. So when a book is written that captures both romance and life, then it is much easier to relate to and make a connection with.


4. One of my best memories connected to reading comes from 11th grade, when my best friend Trevor and I would choose books to race-read. We were in the same English 3H class, so we had to read books for presentations at the same time. We would read the same books, and race to see who could finish first. We are both incredibly competitive people, so we took it very seriously. There were no prizes involved, just the satisfaction of beating one another. I have never had a friend I could 'nerd-out' with before I met Trevor, and after doing little competitions like this, I realized just how lucky I was to have a friend I could rely on to help make me smarter, and have fun memories with that I can look back on and not regret-- which isn't something many Seniors in high-school can say.


5. I have read many books that I simply could not put down after reading the first few pages. One of the first books I ever remember doing this with is Generation Dead, by Daniel Waters. Looking back on it, I do not know if I would have the same reaction to it now as I did in 7th grade- even though it is technically a young-adult novel. I remember staying up almost all night reading on a school night, and I lucked out because there happened to be a storm that night that the school cancelled school the next day. I just remember looking at the clock, putting the book down, turning off the light, shutting my eyes- only to continuously think about the book and getting up so I could continue reading.


9. When I finished reading Delirium, by Lauren Oliver, I was angry because I fell completely in love with the book. At the time, Trevor and I were race reading this book, and i remember flipping page after page after page with strong excitement and I just couldn't get to the end fast enough. I fell in love with the characters, and I just cannot remember the last time I read a book that made me FEEL as much as that book did. I cried, I laughed- I actually felt apart of the book. So, you may be wondering what made me angry? The end of this book, although I will not go into detail, basically tore my heart out of my chest. I just could not believe what had happened, and I was actually angry and bitter about reading for the next few days. I read the sequel, and even that just made me more angry. To this day I have not been able to pick up the third book in the series, Requim. (Do not get me wrong though, this was still one of my favorite books I have ever read. I recommend it completely. Just be prepared.)