“You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy books and that’s pretty much the same thing.” – Unknown
This quote is something I should not live by, but I do. Books are my go-to past time, my mood fixers, my friends. I always felt lonely, never satisfied with the people I called my friends. I dreamed of something to fill my time that was satisfying. I didn’t know what to do about it, until my mom suggested I go to the library. Ever since the summer between sixth and seventh grade, books have been my life. I got my first public library card that summer and spent all my time there. It eventually led to me buying books every chance I got. I have since learned to control myself, but for a while I didn’t know how. Sometimes I still let myself splurge on new books.
When I get asked what my favorite book or book series is, I never have an answer. I can give a list, or even get as specific as a fictional world where these books take place. I can tell you who my favorite author is though.
Cassandra Clare is the author of the books in my favorite fictional world. The world is called The Shadowhunter Chronicles. It consists of The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, The Dark Artifices, The Last Hours, The Bane Chronicles, The Eldest Curses, The Ghosts of the Shadow Market, Tales From the Shadowhunter Academy, and The Shadowhunter’s Codex.
This world revolves around demon hunting Nephilim who save the world while dealing with their own inner struggles as well as normal everyday relationships. These books have produced my two favorite characters in my literary journey. Will Herondale, who is a deep spirited person who loves book and has a sarcastic mouth. The other character is Jace Herondale, a descendant of Will, also has a sarcastic mouth but he shows signs of a deep love for people. This is my go to series whenever I need something comfortable.
Other books that have definitely peaked my interest:
– The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (of course)
– To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
– The Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard
– Most Nicholas Sparks books
– Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
– The whole Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan (along with all the other books by him that are based off of the Greek Gods)
– Most books by Sarah Dessen
All of these books hold special places in my heart, plus many more.
I’ll end this post with an explanation of my lifelong goal —to be able to own every book that I’ve ever read and enjoyed would be a dream come true. A personal library in my home with the comfiest chair or a window seat, the room smelling of a combination of new and old book smell, and the wood from the bookcases. That is my dream.
-Michaela McNeill
Ms. Harner's EN100 Blog 