The Chronicles of Cara Fox: Entry 2

Quick author's note: I am so excited to start these weekly entries, but I feel that I must remind anyone reading this that these are my candid and personal thoughts and feelings about my writing journey. I neither have the desire nor the intention of trying to influence anyone's feelings or beliefs. These entries are simply a way to help others understand and get to know me. Without further ado, let's get started! :)

Let's get talking about reading!

I maaaayyyy have mentioned this before, but I've always, always loved to read. <3 It has never been something I had to grow into, so to speak. Reading always just felt right to me. Like when you are craving something specific and you actually get to eat it. In that one moment, everything feels right, you know? Total satisfaction.

It may sound cliché, but reading has been a way for me to travel to other universes. To meet new friends and fall in love. To invest in another's life other than my own. To learn life lessons that I didn't need to personally experience to get.

But, you know, while I read all types of books, articles, and comics, I've come across certain reads I can almost never put down. Hopefully, you've had the pleasure of knowing exactly what I mean. These are the stories that distract you in the middle of doing what you said you were going to do four hours ago. These are the stories that you can open to a random page and suddenly be three chapters in in no time flat. These are the stories that make you fall in love with reading.

However, while I love reading as an activity, I'm actually very selective when it comes to my favorites. But every book I'm about to list have one thing in common. They made me fall in love with reading all over again! Something about them just called to me. They all came in at a different points in my life and brought me never-ending joy.

Here is a list of my all time favorite books thus far. (And why or when I fell in love with them! <3)

- Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon

(The first line of this story had me hooked! I've never been able to start a series in the middle, but this is the exception to my unsaid rule. A mix of mythology and emotionally driven text made me an Acheron fan. Ever since this book, Sherrilyn Kenyon has been one of my favorite authors. I basically want to be her one day when I grow up one day. XD )

- The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick (This was one of the first books I ever reread. This dystopian novel is all about a boy named Spaz who grows to appreciate the art of writing while traveling across broken cities to meet his sick younger sister, Bean.)

- The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause (This vampire novel blew my mind. In high school, I was in a remedial English class. Not because I couldn't do the work, but because I am one of the worst test-takers ever! I always get so overwhelmed and then, never showed what I truly knew. But thems the breaks, right? Any hoot, this English teacher gave us time to pick whatever book we wanted off her personal bookshelf, and we got to read for 10 to 15 minutes at the beginning of each class. This was the book I chose for that time, and spoiler alert, it makes me cry every. Single. Time. I read it!)

- Beastly by Alex Flinn (I will ALWAYS love a Beauty and the Beast adaption, and this is one of the best ones I've ever read. I adore that it's from the point of view of the Beast, and Alex Flinn's other fairy tale adaptions are equally well written!)

- "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare (This is the first Shakespeare play that I truly understood without having to decipher it. Haha! It's witty, funny, and totally loveable. <3 )

- The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce (OMG! This picture book really launched me into the worlds of William Joyce. He is an absolutely incredible writer and illustrator. Not to mention he is responsible for some of my childhood favorites like Rollie Pollie Ollie, and Meet the Robinsons. This story gave me all the feels and really promotes how essential reading and libraries can be in a person's life. Not to mention, this book was turned into an award-winning short film that blows my mind! Here's the link in case you want to check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=Ad3CMri3hOs&feature=emb_title )

- The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee (This book became a favorite by sentence 3! It is incredibly witty and sincere. Plus, who doesn't love best friends figuring out their feelings for each other while on a grand world tour of Europe!)

- Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (Now, don't hate me, but despite not ever being able to get through the Harry Potter series, this book gave me Harry Potter vibes. Also, I love the fact that this is the real fanfiction story to Rainbow Rowell's previous book, Fangirl. Lastly, who doesn't love two wizardy dormmates finally giving into their feelings for one another after "hating" each other for seven years? Sounds like a winner, right!?)

All of these books made me feel the same feelings I felt when I first read them. It's part of the reason they have made it to my very exclusive favorites list. :) On that note, what books made you fall in love with reading? Comment your faves below!

Lots of love,

Cara <3