As a child, I loved hearing stories. It didn't matter what they were about, as long as it was interesting and fun. My favorite storyteller was always my Nanny. She told the best stories. They were crazy and funny, something I could look forward to hearing. My cousins and I would sit in the floor, circled around her, and just listen. There was an endless supply of books at Nanny and Papaw's house. My favorite was "Be Baf A Beagle" or "A Bath For A Beagle" if pronounced correctly.
The older I got, the more interested I was in stories. Soon enough I started to read along with Nanny as much as possible. Two words here, a small sentence there, and more as I grew. Of course, then I got to second grade, and everything changed. I was introduced to the world of AR, or Accelerated Reading.
This program ruined my perspective on reading. I began to detest the idea of having to read a book. I knew that if I did, I would have to be tested over it, and for a reason I didn't quite understand. There were only certain books you could read to get credit. How on earth did any child find that fun? Yet again later that year, my idea of reading changed slightly. I was introduced to Junie B. Jones, a nightmare for any kindergarten teacher. Her series of books was entertaining and funny, they never repeated themselves. Despite this, I still hated being tested over my reading.
Skip forward about four years, to sixth grade. In January of that year, I saw the movie Twilight, and I just had to read the books afterward. The series changed my outlook on reading forever. I was introduced to the exciting world of teenage romance, and also the supernatural. Just like every girl my age, I became infatuated with the very idea of these two things. I no longer minded being tested over books; I knew them cover to cover! The next year or so was a black hole of supernatural romances, all basically the same story. Yet for some reason, I didn't seem to mind.
Ninth grade, however, is when I discovered the good stuff. Nicholas Sparks, perhaps the most talked about romance novelist out there, turned me into a hopeless romantic. I didn't understand how anyone could not like his writing; I still don't, in fact. His stories of tragic romance had me hooked from day one. Whether it was The Guardian, a story of lost love and mystery, or The Last Song, young love at its best, I loved all of it. My favorite would have to be The Notebook, though. Of course, that could change, considering I have yet to read all of Sparks' books. But for now, I think I'll stick with Allie and Noah's story of forbidden love and struggle. Who knows, maybe one day I can finally have a love like theirs.
