My Favourite Book is... by Emma Crowley

When Sharon first mentioned  she was planning a feature called ‘My Favourite book’ to coincide with her four year blogiversary I thought how on earth can I pick one????  I have read so many brilliant books over the years and have around four or five favourite authors that I would definitely buy their books every year. But as for a favourite book how on earth could I choose just one?  So I cast my mind back to when I fell in love with reading and of course that was in my early childhood. My Dad used to take me to the library every Saturday to get new books and my love for reading just spiralled  from there. In the end I decided to pick two books from my childhood that have stuck with me to this day.I even have my original copies nestled on my bookshelves.

The first book is Matilda by Roald Dahl. Who didn’t love all his books but for me Matilda stood out from the rest.That cover image alone of that small little girl sat on a box surrounded by book just did it for me. I wanted to be Matilda judging by the cover .Of course when I got into the story and read of her parents  I didn’t think her life was as enviable. The story is just magical and the scenes where she is in the library soaking up all the books and reading well beyond her age are forever in my head. Miss.Honey is such a fabulous character who helps Matilda exercise and energise her mind. Maybe Miss.Honey was one of my inspirations to become a teacher. What also made the book so memorable and special was Matilda’s  magical powers that develop and enable her to get her revenge on her self absorbed parents.

The happy ending was just right too. I’m currently reading Roald Dahl to my class at the moment and I can see they are getting hooked by his phenomenal storytelling ability. Matilda is next on the list to be read and I hope I can in years to come the girls in my class will remember Matilda as fondly as I do.

Sharon very kindly let me select a second book and I’d say it was because we both love this book so much. It is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I remember when I was around 9 or ten my Great Aunt whom we visited every week had this book waiting for me one week. Of course I had never heard of this author before or probably had never read a classic but I vividly remember racing through this story of sisterhood and adoring every minute of it. Jo was undoubtedly my favourite character. I wanted to grow up to  be like her and write a book (I have grown up but the book part has yet to happen!). The March family go through so many ups and downs as their father is absent fighting in the American Civil War and I felt I was with Jo, Amy, Beth and Meg every step of the way.

It was a beautifully written portrait of a family and the deep loving bonds of sisters that has certainly stood the test of time. I envy the girls I teach now who are only six and seven as they have this beauty awaiting them as they grow older.

The book was turned into a film and as everyone knows books made into films can often be a flop. I remember Dad took myself and my sister to the cinema when the film came out and it lived up to every one of my expectations. Over several hours the March family were brought to life on the big screen and I loved it. Then I discovered there were follow up books although not as successful as Little Women-Good Wives, Little Men and Jo’s Boys and I thoroughly enjoyed these two from the library and would definitely recommend them. I know Sharon has a special giveaway surrounding this wonderful book so make sure you enter for your chance to win.

Many thanks to Sharon for having me as part of this feature for her blogiversary celebrations.