Sunday 26 February 2012

Blogspiration #2

Blogspiration is a new weekly meme hosted by GrowingUp YA and Saz101. Where inspirational quotes/pictures/videos are posted to bring a little creativity or conversation into the blogging world.


This week's Blogspiration is a little different. Sarah and Kristin have given as a task; an epic question. While we're not obligated to follow their lead, I wanted to answer the question for my post. 

What book inspires you?

Turns out answering this question was slightly harder than I thought it was going to be. There are so many books that I've connected with over the years and the idea of sharing something so important as what *inspires* you in terms of books, needed a lot of thought. I finally managed to narrow it down to one book series that has touched me for years. Check it out.


My choice for Blogspiration this week is one that I discovered as a young teen: Alanna: The First Adventure - Tamora Pierce (Book #1 in the Song of the Lioness Quartet). The reason I picked this book, and why it inspires me, is because it sparked my obsession with books. 



Before Alanna (and Tamora Pierce) I was a casual reader. A couple of books a month, no big deal. Alanna made me hungry for more of the written world. I couldn't stand the thought of being without a book, to be lost within the pages of something so magical and gripping, something created from the mind of one person. It was really moving.

Alanna: The First Adventure is not a particularly difficult read, but it's the excitement and mystery that drove me wild. And it may have also made me obsessed with Knights (who doesn't love a good man in armour, sword fights and a little magic every now and then?)

I wanted to be the secret Knight. I wanted to have her adventures in far away countries and to be super powerful. I wanted so much more than we get from her story. It was this need for more adventures - not just Alanna's - that got me reading more as a teen. 

I can't thank Tamora Pierce enough for inspiring me to become a reader.


Kim

16 comments:

  1. OMG this was one of my favourite series when I was younger. I loved the Keladry books alot more, but I loved all of the Tortal books. They were all so exciting. They were my first examples of really strong female characters and it's a love that has only grown the more I read.

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    1. I love all Tamora Pierce books, but Alanna and Tortal will always be my faves. Yes, you're so right; amazing female leads in these books.

      Thanks for stopping by.
      Kim

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  2. I had a book that did that to me too. I was just a casual reader a couple years ago, then this one book made me realize books are way better than reality. lol.

    Mine: http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy.blogspot.com/2012/02/blogspiration-6-guilty-pleasures.html

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    1. Isn't it just fantastic when you find that one book that makes everything change? You can't help loving it forever.

      Kim

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  3. I like knights too :) :) I haven't heard of this book before but it looks so good :) Thanks so much for sharing :) ;)

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    1. I'm glad I'm not the only knights fan. I think it's why I love Prince Arthur in BBC Merlin so much. That's one sexy knight!

      Kim

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  4. Fantastic post! I have this book on my TBR pile, I'll have to dig it out and give it a read! I must say, my post for this week is pretty similar; I also talked about the book that made me a reader and it was also high fantasy :) Thanks for sharing!

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    1. I thought what better way to express what book inspires me than the one that got me reading? I'll have to go check out your post now :)

      Kim

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  5. Oooh, I kind of feel bad it was hard to answer... kind of >:D

    Oooh, I LOVE your answer, Kim! And I don't think you're alone. I haven't read anything by Tamora Pierce, but I know a lot of people (my best friend, Lauren, who commented above, for instance?), and who she's really touched. I LOVED your answer, and I loved hearing how this really stoked the spark of passion in your reading! eee! *hugs*

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    1. It was only hard because there were so many books that could have been used to answer the question. I kept thinking of Melina Marchetta books and Vampire Academy, but Tamora Pierce won.

      Kim

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    2. Ooooh, you do know that Kristin is a EPICALLY obsessive Melina Marchetta, right? If you had have posted MM, you may have had to beat her off with a stick. hehe *hides* (please don't kill me when you read this Kristin, you know I love you ♥)

      Seriously, this was such a WONDERFUL answer. I'm glad you chose it :D

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    3. Lol, good thing there was no stick beating necessary then :P

      Kim

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  6. I'm adding Tamora to my authors list and reading her stuff! Thanks for sharing.

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    1. I hope you like her, she's definitely one of my favourite authors.

      Kim

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  7. Aaaah!! I love that books can make us want to live these extraordinary lives!! There's NOTHING better than a book that can transport you to faraway places :)

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    1. I know! They're the ones you want to keep, and read over and over again. But form of reading escape.

      Kim

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