Stories that define me

The Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allen Poe: I recall bringing this book home from my school library as a young lower school child. It was one of the books suggested during halloween time for older kids, but my dad was very fond of Edgar Allen Poe, so I checked out the book. I remember reading it as a little kid and not being able to put it down though it gave me terrible nightmares. The stories captivated me interest and ever since when I have had to read them for class, once I start in the memories from getting that book flow back into my head.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: My mom tried reading this to my sister and I when I was around 6 years old and it gave both of us nightmares because of the vivid images we drew from the language of the book. At this point my mom stopped reading it to us for fear of more nightmares; however, less than a year later I asked about the book and I began reading it myself. This is the first time in my memory that I read such a substantial and difficult novel and it was this novel that spurred on my love for the Harry Potter books. I became addicted to the new books as soon as they would come out and though the movies are decent in their own regard they will never compare to the novels themselves in my eyes.

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes: I recall reading Arthur Conan Doyle's collection short stories because it was suggested for school in 9th grade, and I am so thankful it was. For this collection of short stories is one of the most captivating and mentally engaging things I have ever read. Though "The Final Problem" story was very shocking too me and I never quite grasped the fact that Doyle had killed off his main character, but it turns out that neither could he which is why Holmes reappears in The Hound of the Baskervilles.


1984: I read George Orwell's novel this summer and it was extremely captivating to me. I loved his writing it all flowed so well and once again was very vivid. The political concepts behind the book were also fascinating and were very intellectually stimulating. There is no emotional connection to this book for me like my story with Harry Potter; however, 1984 is hands down one of the best books I have ever read and I will ever read.

Killer Angels: Last year I read Michael Shaara's book after having read his son's 3rd WWII book for my I.D. book and in my opinion it blew his son's book out of the water. Don't get me wrong I throughly enjoyed my I.D. book and it's glance into the Nazi High Command was extremely interesting, but Killer Angels makes you feel like you are actually at Gettysburg. Plus I happen to adore the Civil War and having visited Gettysburg just before Junior year I could really relate everything and imagine just where all the generals had been in the area I had explored by foot for hours. I could imagine the men in camp where I had been and I could hear the generals talking as I read their parts, it was a very realistic experience that I adored.

Angels and Demons: Two years ago I read Angels and Demons and it was a wonderful book, it was very intellectually engaging to try to figure out all the twists and turns as Robert Langdon was attempting to do the same thing. It was a very interesting book and a very realistic one that became even more enjoyable when the twist in plot reveals itself in the end. Unfortunately, I believe the movie doesn't do the book justice, and while I'm sure that if it weren't tied to the book it would've been decent, it was a bad depiction of the book.

To Kill a Mockingbird: In 8th grade we read this book and being told from a young girl's perspective the book really appealed to me and allowed me to relate to the story. The whole racial issue that it presented was also really interesting and I loved the book as a whole.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: When this book first came out I nearly read it all in one sitting. This book captured my interest even better than the other Harry Potter books, everything had importance and things in other books that were of seemingly little importance came to have importance again in this last book. The whole book was extremely captivating.

The Great Gatsby: I really enjoyed the book as a whole and way the book way written was very captivating. This is one of the few books I've been required to read during school that I throughly enjoyed.

Artemis Fowl: The first book of a series I didn't completely like, but when I first read this book nine years ago it was just the right time and it really captured my interest.