As you may know, October is National Book Month and everywhere bookworms are rejoicing! Reading is one of my absolute favorite pastimes, not only because I get to immerse myself into another world to get away from real-world problems for a little while, but also because it’s relaxing (well, for the most part- I suppose it depends on what book I’m reading!). In honor of National Book Month, I’d like to share with you what I’ve been reading so far this month.
Back in September, I started reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. I never finished it. Never in my life have I stopped reading a book because I disliked it until now. Okay, you caught me- with the exception of required novels during school, I have never stopped reading a book because I disliked it. After a few weeks hiatus, I decided to give it another go. I had only heard good things from people I know who have read it, so I really wanted to give it another chance, but I just couldn’t get past the strange first-person narrative with abnormally long paragraphs that held conversations within them rather than in separate paragraphs.
Maybe that’s because that’s what I’m used to when I read books- conversations being broken up into separate paragraphs for each person talking. However, I realize that there is no “correct” way to write and that rules are meant to be broken when writing. Even so, I placed the book back on my shelf last week for good.
I have been entranced with reading lately, however. So late last week, after I set Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close aside, I decided to pick up an old book and visit some old friends.
Perhaps my desire to reread the Harry Potter series was due to the cool fall air (finally!) infiltrating the east coast. Maybe it was because of the incessant previews for Freeform’s (many) Harry Potter weekends playing relentlessly on the TV. Or, simply enough, perhaps it was because it has been several years since I’ve reread them in their entirety. Regardless of the reason, I’m ecstatic about my decision to restart this journey.
I finished the Sorcerer’s Stone in just under six and a half hours, which must have been a personal record. I believe it would have taken me less time if I didn’t have a full-time job and several other distractions (or responsibilities) that had to be completed prior to my reading binges.
Kyle came home from work Friday afternoon/early evening and could hardly believe I was on the last few pages of The Sorcerer’s Stone. “How?!” he asked, astonished that I had somehow found the time to finish the book so quickly. Without even asking, he went into our bedroom and grabbed The Chamber of Secrets from our bookshelf and laid it on the end table beside the couch where I was sitting at the time. He just knew that I’d want to start the next book as soon as I was finished the first. That, my friends, is true love.
Anyway, I started reading the Chamber of Secrets on Friday and I’m still currently reading it. Not because I’m not interested in it or because it’s taking a long time to read- Kyle and I were just incredibly busy over the weekend so I had limited time to read. But I’m truly enjoying every page of the series thus far and I’m loving it even more now than the first few times I read it.
Harry Potter holds a special place in my heart, and it remains high on my list of books that I love. Rowling’s series is the first series that I can remember that truly inspired me to write. Whether it was HP-related fan-fiction, online roleplaying (Neopets, anyone?) or even an original story of my own, I was writing almost every day when I was younger because I was so inspired. I wanted to create a world as mystifying, extraordinary and magical (pun intended) as Rowling created. It’s still my dream today.
I’ve realized over the past few weeks that maybe the reason I’m having difficulty writing anything of substance lately (creative writing, that is) is because I’ve been lacking inspiration. I have been told that in times of severe writer’s block, I should revisit a favorite book’s world and find the reason why I wanted to write my own story in the first place. Then, I should explore new worlds in the same genre that I’d like to write about and write down what makes them good and what makes me love them. I’m currently on the first part of that with Harry Potter being my first stop. I’m excited to see what happens while on this ride and what potential stories come out of it.
Now that you know what inspired me to begin writing and what I’m currently reading, I’d love to know what you’re currently reading (or rereading) and what’s on your list of books to read prior to year’s end. Also, if there are any writers/authors out there, let me know what books truly captivated you and inspired you to write. I’d love to discuss this with you and add to my list of books to read- and perhaps they’ll inspire me, too!
Until next time,
Emily
P.S. If any of you are interested in my re-read of Harry Potter, check out the hashtag #EmilyrereadsHP on Twitter!
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