Follow Friday (5)

Follow My Book Blog Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

Q. Talk about the book that most changed or influenced your life (was it a book that turned you from an average to avid reader, did it help you deal with a particularly difficult situation, does it bring you comfort every time you read it?).

For me, it's the Little House on the Prairie series, by Laura Ingles Wilder. I read them in 5th grade at the same time my friend was reading them, and although I was already a big reader by that point, it was my first experience reading a book then really talking about it. I remember reading from those books each night then being so excited to go to school to talk to my friend about what had happened in the story.

After that, it was like a whole world opened up for me--a world where I didn't only get to read books, I could talk about them too. I was super shy growing up, but talking about books with my friends was something that I felt confident doing. It helped me learn that my opinions were just as valuable as everyone else's.

Since then, I haven't been able to shut up about books. Seriously. I'm quiet when it comes to any other subject, but mention a book I've read, and I can't help it--I HAVE to talk about it.