Why I Read.

Well what a month! Scratch that. What a year!

Tomorrow we will mark the end of 2019 and the beginning of a new decade. And what better of a time to look back at the years that have led us to where we are now.

At the start of the year 2010, I was nine and the most exciting thing for me at that age was getting a painting set for Christmas from my Nan, which I still have. The past decade has shaped me into the person I am today. Many may think that I am a short-tempered foul-mouthed nineteen year old who would rather sit in and watch Lord of the Ring than go out clubbing. And although that is true. I have also become more confident and less angry at the world. A lot of that has to do with books.

The books I have read this past year has helped me through a lot of life challenges. I won't go into details of what led me to questioning life and brought me to the lowest point of my life because that is in the past and all we can do with the past is learn from it, reliving it will get you nowhere. At least that's what I think. I was 17 and at a lost, I had just come off my anxiety medication and my mind didn't know how to calm down and relax. That was when I picked up Million Love Songs by Carole Matthews. I had never read a book voluntarily for years and was never interested in reading. I also thought rom-coms were to predictable and full of cliche.

The book changed my life. Ruby Brown is a character I still think of today, funny, strong and daring, if you haven't read the book I strongly recommend it. I devoured the book in a matter of days, something I had never done before and found myself wanting to read more, I suddenly found myself driving to the local Tesco's where I bought This Could Change Everything by Jill Mansell. Each book that followed took me somewhere else, somewhere new and brilliant. My little life in Yorkshire began to feel constricted and the bubble I built began to go away. I found myself wanting more from life, I wanted to see the world and get away sorrow that was keeping me from not living my own life. The sorrow that was making me ill, mentally and physically.

The books taught me that there is a whole world out there, so when I passed my A-levels with A* in Art it opened up the doors for me which led to college. The foundation pre-degree led me to getting an unconditional at the University of Cumbria. A place I fell in love with on my interview. I travelled by train by myself, something I had never done, an 18 year old, who knew nothing of the uni, but had a feeling. The book I carried in my bag and the stories that I carried with me gave me the courage to go alone. I overcame the anxiety and stress that I feared for so long that day. And in return I am now studying in the best place for me, surrounded by the best people who I would have never of met if I hadn't picked up that book.

You may thing I am over reacting or just milking it a bit. But I honestly believe that these books, the ones that I have read have changed my life for the better. Without them I would still be the quiet little Yorkshire Lass who was afraid to ask a librarian for a library card. Something I have only just overcome since I went to uni.

I guess what I am trying to say is that books have the power to change your life, your outlook on it and more importantly, give you the power to dream of a new life, a better one. The past decade has brought a lot of sorrow to my life, but it has also brought joy and laughter. And you know what? I wouldn't change a thing. Not a single thing, everything happens for a reason. If I never felt low, I would never of come across the book, I wouldn't of become the bookworm that I am today and I certainly wouldn't of started this blog. I wouldn't be on twitter either where the book community is amazing! I never thought I would be apart of it, even if I am just a small little blogger, just to see the support and other bookworms sharing there love for books makes my day.

So as I go into the new year, I thank my lucky stars to still be here and the authors whose books have been the light to my darkness, the stories that have made me think that I am not alone. You guys are truly amazing.

I am much better now, mentally and physically. My life back at home is stable and honestly, my life right now may not be perfect but it is pretty damn wonderful. Thank you to my friends Holly, Brooklyn, Sineade, and Olivia for being there when I was at my lowest. And Jamiela, who without you I wouldn't of started this blog. My dad and Amanda who have been incredible, even though I have offend embarrassed you on here, yet you still offer me a home and food which I will never be able to thank you enough for. And Vicky, the mother I never had, the one that doesn't know how to get onto this blog so the chances of her seeing this is slim, (47 year olds!) I will be forever grateful to you, for picking me up and telling me to make something of myself, forever believing that I can when I have often thought I couldn't. I love you all and will always remember what you have done for me.

Without getting too emotional, I shall say this. Thank you to my readers, the fact that anyone reads this little blog makes my day. Here's to a new year, one filled with more books and funny tales of my life and family.

After all, its just another day in the life as the Yorkshire Bookworm,

Till next time,

Phoebe xx