Books: those gorgeous culminations of words that have power beyond anything else. One of the very earliest pictures of me features a book in my hand, my eyes glued to the page despite the fact I could not very well read at that age. Still, I get the same look now as I read a new book for the very first time, or a favorite book for the hundredth time. I believe it is the special magic that words hold that draws me to them, preferring always to read rather than watch in my free time. If you watch a film, it leaves little room for imagination. If you read a book, you are transported into a unique realm that combines the author’s brief descriptions with the more specific ones of your own.

With such an age difference between my brother and I, I had to learn to entertain myself. Unlike today’s children, I had no iPad or laptop to keep me occupied! I would go to the school library every week to pick out new books, and it filled me with the happiest feeling. I never knew what I was looking for, I just grabbed the books I felt “spoke to me,” discovering hidden gems. One day, when I was around 11, I walked up to the counter with Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. Despite the librarian's frequent interactions with me, she proceeded to tell me I was too young to read it - I was not satisfied. Shortly thereafter, I asked my mom if she could drive me to the public library after work, claiming I had read almost all the books in the school library (which was mostly true). Needless to say, guess who went home with a copy of Jane Eyre in their hand? It has been my all time favorite classic novel since.