We're thrilled to have three summer interns in the Corporate Communications team, all of whom will be blogging right here throughout the months ahead. First up is Emily Bowman, a rising senior at Holy Cross University who's studying English and Art History. Here, Emily tells us about her Bookprint: the five books that have most affected her life. Share your own in the comments!
Reading has always been an important and enjoyable part of my life. My mom can easily attest to this, as she loves to recall her disciplining methods for my middle school self – taking away my beloved Harry Potter books. Three days without the adventurous company of Harry, Ron and Hermione?! Apparently that could really teach me a lesson.
As undeniably nerdy as that story is, it speaks volumes (pun intended) about the power of books. Though I was young, I was able to embrace and appreciate the magic of reading as well as anybody else.
That’s the thing about stories – there’s no age requirement for the ability to get wrapped up in another world. As a child, reading was my ultimate defense against boredom. Many of my most cherished childhood memories revolve around reading, and it is to this fact that I owe the curiosity and creativity I see in myself today.
The list of books that have affected me is endless, but for the sake of this blog post, here are my top five:
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper: True to my passion for books from the start, I was a loyal (okay, obsessed) reader of this wonderful story for years. Though I’m sure my parents grew tired of reading the same book to me over and over again, it’s hard to find fault in the story of a plucky blue train whose catchphrase is, “I think I can, I think I can!” As the little engine struggles to make his way over a big hill, he begins to feel disheartened. But with encouragement from friends and his own perseverance, he makes it to the top! The little engine’s tale of self-confidence and triumph reminds readers that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to, no matter how intimidating it may seem at first.
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn: A tale that you never really get too old for. Scared to be away from his mother and his home, Chester Raccoon is reluctant to go to school. But he is comforted when his mother shows him the secret “kissing hand” – a peck on his palm that will carry his mother’s love with him wherever he goes. This story warmed my heart when I was younger and continues to do so today during the countless times I have felt like Chester Raccoon. From homesick moments at sleep away camp to nervous first nights at college, I have never felt far from my family’s unending love and support. The Kissing Hand was the first time those emotions were put into words for me.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling: This list would not be complete without a little Harry Potter! The wizarding world was a big part of my childhood, and it’s the first series I remember being truly obsessed with. My fandom began at a steady pace, with my parents reading a chapter with me before bed each night. By the time the seventh book was released, my obsession had truly peaked. I sped through the pages with an insatiable hunger for each twist and turn of Rowling’s magical tale. Rest assured, I was at the midnight premier of both Deathly Hallows movies, cloak donned and wand at the ready. The entire series had an impact on my reading experience. Poring over these books, I first understood what it meant to feel so connected with and affected by a fictional character. Through tears and laughter, smiles and heartbreak, I learned that books can make you feel real emotions –though a fantasy world, the feelings are true to life. I chose The Prisoner of Azkaban for this list because it was the first Harry Potter book I read on my own. I was able to be engrossed and absorbed in Harry’s world in such a personal way, and I think my love of reading really grew through that.
The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan: Marina was a young writer with a spectacular and unique voice, tragically killed in a car accident just days after her college graduation. After her death, a compilation of her short stories was published. It’s riveting (and a little haunting) to read her profound and insightful views on the world. In her title essay, she describes what she wants out of life – “it’s just this feeling that there are people, an abundance of people, who are in this together.” When I first picked up her book and skimmed the pages, this line really struck a chord with me. Especially as a young person, nervous to see where the rest of my life will take me, her stories reflect the chaos of this crossroads. I could connect with the range of emotions and experiences, and most importantly, the overarching theme that we are all just looking to find “the opposite of loneliness.”
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls: Poignant and striking, The Glass Castle was the first memoir I ever read. I discovered my love for the genre – the unapologetic truth and raw honesty of an author telling her life story. Walls’ reflection on her difficult childhood and dysfunctional parents was overwhelmingly sad, and yet, I was amazed at her ability to avoid blame and resentment. Her talent is in making the reader laugh on one page and cry on the next, through the ups and downs of her hardships. This memoir, and others that I’ve read since then, has played a huge part in inspiring me to begin testing my own hand at creative writing. Though her story was incredible, it was Walls’ unique voice that made her memoir so impactful, and that’s a message that every young reader and writer should take to heart.
Which five books would you consider to be your Bookprint?
