.::. Books .::.

So...since I forgot to post this last week...

My favorite book as a child is a bit of a hard question for me to answer. I tended to have obsessions over certain books for certain periods of time. I was quite fond of The Chamber by John Grisham, and the BFG by Roald Dahl, as well as anything by Edgar Allan Poe or H.P. Lovecraft. I think for the longest duration my favorite book was my collected works of Edgar Allan Poe, so I will describe this one. Edgar Allan Poe was considered the father of the American gothic genre. He, along with H.P. Lovecraft, who was considered to be another founding father of the American horror or gothic genre of writing, opened up a new world or psychological awareness. Through reading his work one began to think differently. You could not know what was lurking beneath the floor boards. You did not know whether the sound of the Tell Tale Heart was in your mind, originating from guilt, or if it truly did beat by the force of some otherworldly power.
My favorite book now, is not much different to be honest. I cannot say that I regularly reread books once I have read them. Unfortunately, with working in a bookstore I don’t have the time to reread old favorites as we are always getting in new books that need to be read and familiarized. However, the book that I will bring down to read when I am in need of enlightenment or to just feel good is still my Collected works of Edgar Allan Poe. There is just something about it that lifts my spirits. It makes me laugh, smile, and think. I love being able to analyze the personalities, how they tick, and why they work mentally. I think now it has become a passion for me because it is largely interactive even though the books, poems, letters and tales contained within were written far before my time.
For me this book is breath of fresh air when I am choking in the noxious fumes of reality. When worries or cares weigh too heavily upon me I can pull it down from the shelf and read a little bit that allows me to think about another way of living. It helps me escape from the present cares and even helps me to think of them in a different light. I have written many a paper with H.P Lovecraft or Edgar Allan Poe at my side, allowing me to better analyze whatever research I am working on or concepts I am trying to understand at any given time.
I remember reading these books as I went through hard times in my life, and the writings encouraging me to work through my own emotions through writing poetry. I wanted to write poems like Edgar Allan Poe. I wanted people to see many different meanings in my writing. It’s what drew me to writing lyrics for music, and to me becoming published with a few of my poems. These books gave me something to strive for, and felt like I got a look into the mind of a dear friend who would not disappear on me one day. I knew the books would always be there, and the emotions within would be there to console my own inner storms.