Today my friend Sara is guest blogging.  She is one of most vivacious 20 somethings that I know.  We got to know each other by working with the youth group at church.  I hope you enjoy her thoughts on her favorite book and get hooked on her writing.  Remember, you can read more of her thoughts  here.

I love to read. Love love love love. A lot of times, it’s easier to fall in front of the tv and zone out and lose brain cells rather than gain them! Ha. I think we all have been guilty of this, am I right? Please don’t leave me out here hanging on my very first guest blog experience! Ha! 🙂 So, one of my favorite questions to ask people is “Whatcha been reading lately?” I am SO much more likely to read a book if I’ve heard something about it. It doesn’t even have to be a good review, although that always helps…but rather just something…anything….Bueller??? So, I thought I’d take this opportunity to give not only a “something” but a HUGE HIGH recommendation of my most favorite book of all time. I’d love to hear your latest reads or highest recommendations in the comments below!!! 🙂

Every year, when it starts to get just a bit warmer, I have the desire to dust off my copy of Animal Dreams and read it cover to cover. This year was no exception. I was introduced to this lovely piece of literature spring semester of my sophomore year of college. (2002 for those of you wanting to know how old I am) It was required reading for one of my favorite classes I’ve ever taken. I approached the book like any other book listed on the syllabus of a class…as a task. but it took about oh 10 pages for that all to change. as I began to read, I began to find myself in the characters of the book. I read the whole thing in about 2 days….even though we discussed it for about 6 in class. I remember being sad when I realized I was reading the last chapter. I remember never wanting to leave these characters I had come to know and love for the past 6 days. I even did an extra (not for grade or extra credit) response assignment because it was about this book.

I can’t pinpoint why exactly I love this book so very much. all I can say is it spoke to me on so many levels. It gave me hope, It gave me a taste of reality, It gave me a mirror for self evaluation, It gave me answers, It gave me new questions to ask. It gave me an escape, It gave me definition. It gave me the freedom to think beyond what I knew and It gave me the courage to speak up. It is an amazing book. And so, every spring, I go to my bookshelf, find the book with the orange cover and a big used sticker on it, get a different color pen (have I mentioned I’m an underliner and note writer when it comes to my books???? I sure am!!!), and start again on the journey through this book.

I look forward to this ritual every year, let me tell ya! I’d encourage everyone to read this literary gem….or find your own literary treasure that not only refreshes you, but challenges you all at the same time.

So, please chime in with your comments or reading suggestions!

photo courtesy of Amazon.com