I fell in love with books and reading in fourth grade – thanks to a persistent teacher, Mrs. Giraldi. She does not know it, but Mrs. Giraldi greatly influenced my life. Every day after lunch we had silent reading for half an hour. In the beginning, I dreaded this daily activity. Those thirty minutes seemed like an eternity! The first book I read, Shoeshine Girl, took me about three months to read (awesome book by the way). After, I decided to read Charlotte’s Web, and when I finished it, I was hooked! Through books, I discovered a whole new world I never knew existed. Had Mrs. Giraldi not been so determined, I may have never discovered this amazing world. To this day I love to read and can spend hours in a bookstore or library. I know I have too many books, but I always want/need more. I favor psychological thrillers, multicultural literary fiction, but I will honestly read any genre if it piques my interest. Nothing makes me happier than starting a new book (a glass of wine is always a bonus). Reading is a relaxing and necessary outlet for me. This blog is an attempt at creating a space where I can share my love of books and reading with others.