“What is your Favorite Book?”

The oft repeated, get-to-know-ya question that I have yet to answer in less then ten minutes.

I love books. I read incessantly. I can’t possibly choose one among the hundreds of stories in my brain, clamoring to be heard. Just as I believe I have it, I think of another book, and another, until I feel a bit smothered and overwhelmed. I try to stem the torrent of titles and authors, contradict myself, attempt to gather my scattered thoughts before invariably giving up altogether.

“I don’t know,”

The truth is, I read books for a variety of different reasons, in response to a variety of different things. I read for comfort, entertainment, education, to escape reality, to combat boredom. What I like to read depends on the mood. Do I want romance or adventure? A thrill? Suspense? Do I want to be moved, stirred to action, or just be still for a moment. My favorite books satisfy those needs.

I’ve always loved classics. Contemporary authors and themes have their place, but the stories that are consecrated by the dust of centuries evoke an especial reverence. There’s a sense of camaraderie with all those who have enjoyed the same characters, felt their hearts thrill at the same words. Contemporary stories have a different charm, but the mystique and wonder of long cherished tales will always come first for me.

Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, and Jane Austen’s, Pride and Prejudice, I have read and re-read countless times. I feel a kinship with the characters. Perhaps because the sense of loyalty to family, desire for independence, and love of literature displayed by the spunky, tempestuous Jo March and the witty, spirited Elizabeth Bennet mirror my own thoughts and feelings. I admire Elizabeth’s intelligence, laugh at her cool, sometimes sarcastic, remarks. I appreciate Jo’s passion and ambition, her refusal to conform to others’ standards.

C.S Lewis is also one of my favorite authors. I first discovered the enchanting land of Narnia when I was quite young, but I still thrill at the now familiar words. The bond between the Pevensies is rich and real. I admire the way they look out for each other. Although I couldn’t pick a favorite from among them, I have always found Edmond particularly intriguing. He loves his family, but he gets frustrated, annoyed, and impatient. I like him because his shortcomings are my own. But Edmond learns, grows, becomes a better person. His struggles and failures only bring his final triumph into sharper relief. I find his character incredibly uplifting.

A very different genre and style, but nonetheless captivating, is the work of Russian authors Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky. I love the terse, practical way in which even the most abstract themes are described. The poignancy of certain scenes and emotions are apparent. I read War and Peace when I was thirteen. The violent, internal struggle of Tolstoy’s characters, so different from the orderly, genteel heroes of some other authors, stirred and captivated my attention. The wandering heir Pierre Bezukhov, wading though doubt and skepticism in his search for purpose and meaning, contrasted with the deep, almost obsessive religion of Maria Bolkonsky was vivid, interesting, and relatable to me.

I love talking about the authors, books, and characters that have encouraged, inspired, and shaped me. Reading these classics have enabled me to gain a deeper understanding of history, the frailty of humanity, and of myself. The characters I have grown up with and loved have had a profound impact on who I am and who I want to be.