Follow Me This Friday... Or Else. 8/5

Hello new followers! Be sure to stop by my about page to learn a little more about me and my blog. I hope you enjoy your stay. Let me get started with the first Friday Question brought to you by Parajunkee's View.

Q. Talk about the book that most changed or influenced your life (was it a book that turned you from an average to avid reader, did it help you deal with a particularly difficult situation, does it bring you comfort every time you read it?).

For this question, I have two answers (one for non-fiction, and one for fiction).

For non-fiction, I would have to say Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. When I was in college, getting my undergrad, I went through a lot of depression and self doubt. Marcus Aurelius, a philosopher king from thousands of years ago, had the words that I needed to read at that time in my life. Stoic philosophy gave me a way of looking at the world that helped pull me out of my depression, and stop caring so much about how I compared to others.

For fiction, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett helped me see that beauty and magic could be found in the everyday and in the natural world. The first issue I ever read was one of those small Barnes and Noble editions that can fit in your pocket. I bought it when I worked a job I hated at a movie theater. I looked forward to taking small breaks or finding small moments where I could take a peek in that book. In a way, I too was escaping into the beauty of the garden to get away from the smell of popcorn and hot dogs.

Q. Which books have effected you on a personal level and lingered in your mind long after you closed the pages?

A lot of books have left a huge impression on me. But here are just a few:

Q. What is the one ARC you would love to get your hands on right now?

I don't have an ARC per se, but I just got The Magicians by Lev Grossman from my digital library and I'm real excited to read it considering the second book in the series, The Magician King, is coming out this month.


Also, I will be postponing my regularly scheduled Friday book review to Saturday, as I'm currently rethinking my weekly schedule, and because I need extra time. Also, I will be doing a very special giveaway I'll be announcing here on Tuesday. Trust me, you won't regret checking in to see what it is. :)