Obsession: Books

There's nothing better than curling up with a good book and getting lost inside someone else's story for hours.  I think throughout our lives each of us have those books that impact us and we have those characters that we fall in love with, those who stay with us long after the story has ended. 

I have a few books I've read that have impacted me like that. They are: 

1) The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling 

This is a series that I, like millions of others, grew up on.  I can remember wanting to have unconditional friends like Ron and Hermione. This past summer I recently re-read the series and I fell in love with Harry Potter all over again; I laughed with them, I cried with them, I fought with them like I was reading everything for the first time.  In my opinion, there is no other story that shows true adversity, strength, and honest love and protection.  Harry overcame every obstacle in his path and became stronger throughout the entire series.  I believe that Harry Potter is a great story for children (and even adults) to reiterate to us never give up.  That even though there is evil in the world your family, friends, and inner strength will be there to show you how much you are capable of. 

2) The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

I will admit I did watch the movie before I read the book, but I will say this book changed me. It made me realize that every girl deserves a nice Southern man who will do anything and everything to make her proud. It showed me that true love will find its way and that making the right decision is not always the easiest. It gave me hope in love. It's truly a feel good book and when I read it I was not able to put it down. 

3) Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

I love those books that take you to a different time in America. Most of us don't realize how fortunate we are to live in the America we live in today. Water for Elephants is an exciting read. It gives an insight into the life aboard a travelling circus in Depression Era America. While the performers seem so extravagant and seem to have the "perfect" life -- everything is not all peaches and cream. Water for Elephants is a story about friendship, bravery, love, protection, and standing up for what is right. 

Those are my favorite books that I've read (or re-read in Harry Potter's case) in the last year. What are some of your favorites? I am ALWAYS looking for suggestions of good "light" reads -- especially things that will get my mind off of all the reading I'm doing for my classes throughout the semester. 

I hope your weekend is as fabulous as you are!

xoxo, 

M