Discussion: New (and old) Favorites

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You’ve been asked the question a hundred times before: What’s your favorite book? Whenever someone used to ask me this question I felt such a soul crushing panic because for awhile I didn’t know. I always found myself floundering for words and blurting out a book that I thought they would also like, or something that wasn’t “embarrassing” to like.

This was all until I found my all-time favorite book. Anyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I read it freshman year of college during winter break after many IMG_1540recommendations to read it for years. It wasn’t until my mom had started listening to the audiobook and would text me how great it was that I promised I’d read it over winter break when I was away from school and could focus my full attention on it.

I will never forget sitting by our Christmas tree, the lights twinkling, and  candles flickering (you can tell I really get into the holiday spirit) when I devoured that novel. It’s a good 400 pages and I finished in about two days I think. Probably would have gone even faster if I didn’t have to take breaks. It was the first book that made me really cry and feel for characters in a way I never had before.

And from then on, it’s been my favorite book. That same year my mom and I went to go see the movie on Christmas Eve and it’s become my winter movie re-watch ever since. Funnily enough, I have not re-read it since then, which brings me to my whole point of this long post; do your favorite books change? What makes them your favorites? Is it an emotional connection? The writing in general? How do you feel when other people have a mediocre reaction to your favorites?

And favorites change right? When I was in elementary school, my favorite books were Matilda and then Little Women. FIMG_7863rom there it changed to Pride and Prejudice and Gone with the Wind when I read those in middle school and then to To Kill a Mockingbird and Perks of Being a Wallflower in high school (the perfect high school angsty novel) and now it’s The Book Thief. Sure, I have other series’ and books that I love, but not adore and would buy four copies of (so far) like I have The Book Thief. Did it change my life? Yes. Did it change who I am? Yes, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

3 Replies to “Discussion: New (and old) Favorites”

  1. I LOVE THE BOOK THIEF. It’s definitely one of my all-time favorite books and I’m glad you feel the same.

    1. I mean, Max Vandenburg is basically the best. 😀 Thanks for your comment!

  2. I’m gonna admit that I haven’t finished The Book Thief. *hides* But it wasn’t because I didn’t like it; it was because it took so much out of me. It’s such a depressing and beautiful book, and it exhausted me with its sadness and emotions. I couldn’t go on! I’ve been wanting to get back to it, but I’m scared it will eat me alive. ;D

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