The Idea of an Essay, Volume 3

68 The Idea of an Essay: Volume 3 to quit (though, granted, I did put them away with a sigh of relief when I finished). I have hopes of someday reading many classics and writings, including but not limited to Oliver Twist, Wuthering Heights, Surprised by Joy, A Grief Observed, Till We Have Faces, North and South, Emma, and Martin Luther’s Ninety-five Theses. To me, reading is an essential part of learning to write. To that end, I continue reading the works of great writers, and strive to learn how to emulate them. I also admire the authors whose books I have already read and love. My favorite genre is Christian fiction, so I have read many books with that flavor. Some of my favorites have been Donita K. Paul’s Dragon series; Wayne Thomas Batson’s Door Within Trilogy; L.B. Graham’s Binding of the Blade series; Lois Walfrid Johnson’s Viking Quest series; The Lord of the Rings; Andrew Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga; and Jonathan Roger’s Wilderking Trilogy, to name a few. My dad was in the Air Force for twenty years. When I was five, he received orders to move from Beavercreek, Ohio, to Edwards AFB, California. Our family sold our house, packed our many belongings, and began the eleven-day car ride to our new desert home. I am certain my car bag was stuffed with books. As we traveled the dusty, seemingly-endless highways day after day, I sat hunched in my seat, completely absorbed in Laura Ingalls’ Little House on the Prairie. I loved reading her descriptions of making maple candy, the log cabin in the woods, the home by Plum creek, and the deep, deep snow. I remember little of the trip, except when we stopped to rest or sightsee. But I remember those books. I still want to read them again someday. When I was in eighth grade, I made a personal goal to read one hundred books during the school year. As soon as I finished a book, I wrote down the title so that I could keep count. It was a very fun challenge. I read books such as Ben-Hur, The Knights of Arrethtrae, Redwall, Mandie books, Ella Enchanted (one of my all- time favorites), and Carry on, Mr. Bowditch. Towards the end of the year, I was running out time and running out of books! For my one hundredth book, I finally settled on Journey to the Center of the Earth. Although it would not have been my first choice, it worked and I enjoyed the story for what it was worth. My extensive and enjoyable reading experiences have naturally impacted and augmented my desire to write and to be able