My Favourite Books

In honour of World Book Day, I'm rehashing an old post of mine that I wrote for a blogging challenge back in 2011 when I was asked to name my three favourite books. However, naming just three books that are my favourites is nearly impossible so I just ignored it. Here are the books that I could read over and over again:

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Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass: This is an easy choice for me, I have loved both of these books since I was a small child. I keep hoping that one day I'll fall down that rabbit hole and end up in Wonderland myself.

It all started when I was three years old, I would watch the Disney version over and over again, just repeatedly pressing the VHS tape in (Remember - be kind, rewind). I even had multiple copies of the film, just in case in my haste to rewind one of them broke. I then had them read to me, and then began reading them myself. Don't ask me how many times, I don't know the answer!

My love of Alice in Wonderland is well known and the icing on the cake for me was when I was asked to pose as Alice for a fashion shoot.

Jessica Stone Photography

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series: Yes, I am one of the millions of children who grew up reading Harry Potter. I waited anxiously for every book, and was never disappointed. And I remember getting every one!

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone: At the sixth grade book fair!

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I read the first one so quickly that I was able to go back to that same book fair and purchase Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: I was in Indiana visiting my grandparents at the time. They went to the supermarket for me and picked it up. I scarcely left my room that day (pretty sure I even had my meals in there).

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: I wasn't feeling well the day it came out, and was disappointed as  I wanted to go out and get it. My mom was out shopping and she brought it back in a gift bag!

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Also a present from my mom, although I don't remember if it came in a gift bag. Knowing her, probably. :)

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: I was in Barnes and Noble Bookstore on the 20th of July 2007, waiting for the midnight bell to chime the 21st so that I could collect my order. I figured I should do it at least once! And I'm very glad I did!

For more of my thoughts on Harry Potter, please read A Harry Potter Summer.

Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones: I read this Junior year of high school in my American Literature class (thank you Ms. Starry!) and absolutely fell in love. It is not the lightest of reads, but if you don't mind being a bit unsettled then I'd recommend it! (And don't bother watch the film, it's crap -- for lack of a better word)

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One Day by David Nicholls. My newest edition to the list! I remember when it come out last year being intrigued but I had so many books on my 'to read' list that I decided to read it later. By the time later came, I forgot about it. Thankfully, the film came out and I was reminded about it. (I have yet to see the film).

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Labyrinth and Sepulchre by Kate Mosse are absolutely fantastic! I love how they dive back and forth between modern and the middle ages (in the case of Labyrinth) and turn-of-the-century (in the case of Sepulchre). These books have everything: intrigue, murder, love, a touch of fantasy, and my favourite aspect - history. Luke introduced me to Labyrinth, for which I'm very grateful or I never would have found either of them.

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Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island: Various stories from Bill Bryson's tour of England (before moving back to America) is epic. That's right I used the word epic to describe this work. I actually laughed out loud when reading this, not once but on several occasions. He's so witty! I wish I could write about my experiences in England with as much talent. (I suppose that's why he gets paid the big bucks and I don't) His other books are worth mention as well. As The Times says "not a book that should be read in public, for fear of emitting loud snorts".

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Stephen Clarke's A Year in the Merde: Another laugh out loud read! I read this while living in France, another Luke recommendation. It is all about an English man who moves to Paris. Stephen Clarke's cultural observations on the French are spot on, and most of the time barely exaggerated. The sequels: Merde Actually, Merde Happens, and Dial 'M' for Merde are also worth nods, but in my opinion they weren't quite as good as he original.

So there you have it! Some of my favourite books of all time. If you're looking for something to read, I would confidently recommend any from this list!

Erin x

A Harry Potter Summer

My American-Edition Hardbacks

I look back on the summers of my childhood with fond memories of pool parties, barbecues, and most importantly... Harry Potter. Yes, I was one of the thousands of children whose young adult life was changed by J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. You can take your Generation X or Generation Next, we were the Potter Generation! I can still remember the first time I picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (or Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as it is known here in the UK). It was at my sixth grade book fair in 1999, when Potter Mania was just beginning to take shape. At the time there were only three Harry Potter books out with Prisoner of Azkaban just being published in the United States. But why do summers remind me of Harry Potter?  Two reasons: 1) The four remaining books were all released in the summer months and 2) my own personal tradition of reading all the Harry Potter books every summer.

My incredible 3D Harry Potter glasses!

This summer was particularly poignant as the last every Harry Potter film was released, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2. I was excited, yet reluctant to go and see the film. It's conclusion would be the truly the end of an era. And last Saturday the era ended when Luke and I finally went to go see it. Luke is perhaps one of five children who didn't grow up reading and loving Harry Potter, but he is slowly becoming a Harry Potter convert thanks to my influence. He's only seen the films (which makes me shudder) but he says he enjoys them, and I hope to someday persuade him to actually sit down and read this creative masterpiece. I won't say too much about the film, I don't want to ruin it for people who haven't been. Of course the book was better than the film (when is it not?) but David Yates, the director, did a wonderful job with this adaptation. The young actors have truly grown into their roles, and the older cast is just as phenomenal as ever. Particularly, Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, one of the most complex characters of the book. So if you haven't been to see the film, I would strongly urge you to run not walk to your nearest cinema and watch it!

I can remember reading every book for the first time, Rowling truly is a master at taking the reader inside the world. At the moment, I'm currently beginning my third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardary. Translation: I'm currently reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I've started my Harry Potter summer reading a little later than I usually do, and it's going a little slower as I find the older the get the less time you have. When I was younger, I could read every Harry Potter in a day but now life tends to get in the way. Boo to the responsibilities of getting older!

I think J.K. Rowling is reluctant to say goodbye to Harry Potter as the rest of us. This summer the website Pottermore was announced. Pottermore is said to be a website geared to "fans of any age who can share, participate in, and rediscover the stories." Yes I signed up. It's not completely active yet but my interest is certainly piqued.

I would like to conclude this post just by saying thanks to Harry Potter, but most importantly, thanks to J.K. Rowling for creating a truly magical world!

Erin x

Ladies and gentlemen, for your amusement... The Potter Puppet Pals!

Quintessentially English's August entry for Happy Homemaker UK's Post of the Month Club