Welcome to the final edition of Thankful Thursday!
And Happy Thanksgiving!
This week, I wanted to highlight how powerful books can be in our lives.
Missed out on other Thankful Thursday editions?
1st edition | 2nd edition | 3rd edition
I am thankful for books because they provide much needed stress relief from the reality that is my profession. Blogging is also a great stress relief, and conversing with all of the fantastic bloggers, authors and publishers is the cherry on top. I am very thankful for all of you.
-Smash Attack!
I’m thankful for the escape books have provided me over the years. While I’ve been known to disappear a little too far into the world of words, books have always been there for me. With the hubs and I working opposite shifts and only seeing each other on the weekends, book provide me with an entertaining getaway to pass the time.
-Tara SG @ 25 Hour Books
For what am I thankful? Well, first of all, I am full of thanks. I mean, up to here *stretches arm way above head* So, why am I so fraught with thanks? Pull up a chair whilst I spill my soul…
Books have always provided an outlet for me…in times of stress, worry or sadness. However, what I want to focus on right now is deeper than that. So, for the faint of heart or the superficial reader, you might want to take a deep breath.
Growing up, life was…well, not ideal. Whose is though, right? Well, mine sucked in an abusive way. Men who were supposed to love me and take care of me, kiss my skinned knee and protect me from bad things in life…well, they were those bad things. The result? I grew up to expect men to tell me what to do. I didn’t argue. Didn’t think for myself. My man wanted what he wanted…didn’t matter if I said no. Which I did. Frequently.
Depressed yet? Don’t be. Somewhere along the way, I not only found courage to take a stand for myself, I found myself. So…what does this all have to do with books? Well, that’s how it happened. I picked up Patricia Briggs’s Moon Called because I loved the cover. I’d never read Urban Fantasy before. That novel and the entire series, actually, was the turning point in my life. In how I viewed myself. In how I interacted with others. Seeing a kick-ass lead chick who stood her ground, who was true to herself no matter the situation…it lit a fire within my soul, that burns to this day.
Allow me to take this all one step further though. The next series I read was Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress and from there I discovered Moira Rogers and a whole host of Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance and Erotica novelists. I suppose you could say I am thankful because these books, each genre, has played a role in getting me through some difficult issues. Gotten me to view myself, and intimacy, in a positive and natural light.
Thank you to the authors who thought up the characters and stories, and thank you to the editors and agents who believed in those stories enough to get them to the public. These books are my therapy and have turned me into the craziest version of myself I could have ever hoped to be.
-kyla holt
Books have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Like Smash Attack and Tara, books have provided an escape and stress relief from life. And like Kyla, books have also affected me on a deeper level. There have been books that completely changed who I was and what I believed in the best possible way. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand was one such book that taught me that I am important, and that I can love myself without changing who I am for other people. It showed me that some people really suck, and it is not worth expending time and energy on the people who do not see you and love you for who you really are. Books have also given me something to aspire to be. There are some amazing, kick-ass characters who inspire me to be better and stronger while at the same time trying to become more me. Without books, I would not be who I am today. And for that, I am thankful.
-Amanda
8 Responses to “Thankful Thursday [4]”
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Thanks so much for posting this. Books defintiely have the power to change lives, and I can think of at least a dozen times books have helped me through some really difficult times in my life–or even were there through the good times. I think it’s because us, as readers, actively look to connect with a character in a book, moreso than in other types of media. And once we make that connection, we experience the same successes, pitfalls, tragedies, and lessons as that character does. So as that character changes, so to do we.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
Smiles!
Lori
I think that books require us to more actively engage with the material (watching TV, for example, could be considered far more passive) and this creates a stronger attachment. And I couldn’t think of a better time to talk about how amazing books are and how they have (positively) changed our lives. Thanks for commenting, and happy Thanksgiving to you, too! :)
Some people really do suck, and I’ve always been of the opinion that it’s not worth waiting time and energy on them.
You’re beautiful just the way you are! ;)
Hope you had a great T-day!
I spent a few really depressing years trying to get people to like me right around the end of high school. It took reading the Fountainhead for everything to really solidify and make me realize I couldn’t force it.
Thanks, Missie! <3
Thanks for posting all of these Thankful Thursdays. It is so nice to read these positive thoughts each week. I also enjoyed reading aobut how much everyone else is thankful for the ability to escape into a book- so much better than a television show!
~Jess
http://onabookbender.com/2011/11/03/thankful-thursday-1/
Glad you enjoyed it, and I agree, books are so much better than TV.
Great post and great feature. Books are better than TV. I can’t actually remember the last time I sat down and watched an entire show. I loved all the comments this week. It’s amazing how powerful books can be. It is therapeutic and empowering to read about a character that you can totally relate to. It’s really easy how just the right words at the right time can be totally life changing. Thanks to all of you guys for sharing! You are all awesome!
I’ve been finding that the more I read, the less I actually want to watch TV. Glad you liked the feature! :)