Books that take hold

I had a couple days off last week, so I went to the library to find a book to read. As I always do when I walk into the library, I went straight for the "NEW" shelf...where I found not one or two, but FOUR novels that I've been wanting to read -- and there was a fifth on hold for me at the desk. I walked out of that building with a bag full of books and a huge smile. 

Something odd happened in one of these books, titled Where'd You Go, Bernadette?: I read the entire book -- over 320 pages -- in just under a week because I just loved it. It was witty and clever and told in a unique narrative style, and I connected with the characters right away. I couldn't put this book down! And the ending was gripping and emotional...until I got to the last three pages and discovered a horrible printing error. When the book was printed, there was a problem with the computer files that the printer received, and the last three pages were THE WRONG PAGES. Instead of page 323 leading to page 324, it led to page 224, 225, and 226. You guys, I'm serious, I almost burst into tears. Here it was, the middle of the night, I'd been devouring this book and knew I couldn't sleep until I finished it...and then I couldn't finish it. AAAAGGGHHHHH!

So you know what I did? I got up early in the morning and drove to the bookstore, where I bought a cup of coffee and grabbed the book off the shelf, and I settled down and read the final five pages. And it was amazing. The final three pages in particular were simply outstanding. Deep breath in, big exhale out. I could get on with my day. 

Today I'm reading another book, titled The Ocean at the End of the Lane, by a favorite author, Neil Gaiman. (He writes books for kids and teenagers too. Did you ever hear of the movie Coraline? It's based on one of Neil Gaiman's children's books.) This book is a short novel about a little boy in England who is battling a magical, malevolent creature from another dimension. It's a bit odd. And I don't really love it, to be honest. But the writing is really good. So good, in fact, that I feel like even though I don't like the story so much, if I don't finish it, I'll forever be bothered, wondering what happened to the little boy and his magical friend, Lettie. 

That's the power of a good book. It'll get into your heart and head if you let it. And I strongly recommend you let books get hold of you like this. As my new friend Dav Pilkey explains in this little video, reading gives you super powers.

Tell me: Have you ever read a book that you enjoyed so much that you felt sad when it ended? (I recently read Wonder, by R.J. Palacio, and although I wasn't sad when it ended, I had a hard time finding another book to read afterward. I just wanted to be with my Wonder family, you know?)

Or, do you have a book that you like to read over and over again? (For me it's To Kill a Mockingbird and The Great Gatsby. I read each of these in high school, and I ready each every few years; I always find something new to love about them.) 

What book have you started to read that you just couldn't get into? (I have a little rule: If I'm not really into a book by page 50, I put it away and pick up a new one. Sometimes I'll go back to the book and I'll like it -- maybe I just wasn't in the right mood the first time -- but not always. There are way too many books in the world to spend time reading something you don't really love, don't you think?)

Are there any books you want to read this summer? We can add them to our list of possibilities.