Battle of the Bookstores

by Ali Brady

I am the product of every book I’ve ever read and every experience I’ve had, each heartbreak and failure, every moment of sadness and joy. The people I’ve met and the characters I’ve encountered, the events that challenged me and the narratives that have stretched me—all this is inscribed on my soul. They are the stories that shape who I am today and give me the strength to reach for more.

Even after a book ends, whether it’s happy or tragic, the characters have more life to live—and so do we. So much happens beyond the pages that we never get to read. That’s what I’m looking forward to—living it all, the good times and the tough ones—wherever the story takes us.” “Beyond the pages,” he says, smiling. “I love that.”