As I learned years ago, fiction is a beautiful thing for so many different reasons.  It can teach you about the real world, provide an escape and bring history to life.  Of course it can do so much more than that, but those are the main reasons why I love fiction.

Literature has been a driving force in pop culture for hundreds of years from Charles’ Dickens Oliver Twist to Harry Potter.  So many different books have left their marks on world history, but more importantly on the lives of many individuals.  When you find that one book that really changes your outlook on life it’s a hard feeling to put into words.

When you find that book that changes your life, it leaves you quite literally breathless when you finish it.  You close the book, maybe stare at it for a few seconds and then slowly release your breath as you’re sucked back into reality.  You get that odd feeling in your chest that’s a mixture of sadness, amazement and sheer awe. Continue reading →