Day 1 Favorite Book

I signed up for NaBloPoMo this month to help me to focus on my writing. This month the theme is fiction, and today the topic is My Favorite Book.

I remember when I had finally chosen a major after three years taking classes at a community college. I knew I loved writing, so the guy at the Transfer Center recommended Creative Writing as a major. However, did you know that if you wish to be an effective writer, you must also be an avid reader.

This revelation hit me hard, because I wasn't a fan of reading, yet my major was English with an emphasis in Creative Writing (ironic, yes?). In high school, I got by on my extensive collection of Cliffs' Notes, instead of reading the novels assigned for book reports. There would be the odd book chosen that had not been adapted by Uncle Cliff and I had to do the book report the old fashion way - I had to read it.

But then in college I had finally chose a major - English, the professors had assigned tons of books in their assignments. The first hectic yet rememberable semester, I took two English classes one was called "Readings of the Novel" and the other was "English Lit 402". That was the semester I was introduced to Jane Austen and Helen Fielding, and I never looked back.

I had first been assigned to read Pride and Prejudice for my English Lit 402 class, and I instantly fell in love with Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy. I was amazed at how Ms Austen could create such a memorable, clever, and funny comedy of manners and at the same time show the different interpretions of love.  Even though I love this book it is not my favorite.

In this same class I had to choose a novel by a modern English author to finish off the semester. Okay. I was talked into reading Bridget Jones' Diary, by a classmate of mine who was also taking the same two English classes as me.

I instantly fell in love with this book. I know it isn't To Kill a Mockingbird or The Great Gatsby or some other masterful work of fiction. But it made me laugh during a time when I myself was struggling with love and the idiots I was somehow attracting.

Bridget Jones' Diary is a modern adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. If I hadn't been assigned Pride and Prejudice I most likely would not have been able to appreciate Bridget Jones' Diary. I laughed out loud reading this book, people thought I was crazy. Its filled with such great British humour you can't help by cheer for Bridget as she bumbles her way from the loverat Daniel Cleaver (Wickham) to snobby yet reserved Mark Darcy (Mr Darcy).

I think at the time I had read BJD I was able to appreciate the book more because I was single, like her. Being showered with attention from the wrong person, like her. Neurotic about not finding the right person, like her. Also, I think that was the first time I really became a fan of reading.

I wasn't read to as a child, so the appreciation of books wasn't something that was instilled in me. My mom was a single mother and worked 40+ hours a week. Part of her job was reading manuals all day so by the time she got home she didn't want to read.

I did learn to appreciate books as an adult, so now having to choose my favorite is a hard one. But my choice is the one that helped me become a fan of reading.