Battle of the Bookstores

by Ali Brady

No matter how long it’s been, books are waiting with open pages, ready to whisk you away on an adventure or comfort you after a rough day. People may come and go from your life, but books? Books are forever.

I wish saying all that made me feel better. Instead, I’m left feeling like no matter what I do, if I stay silent or stay in control or let everything out, I’ll always end up in the wrong.

every book leaves its mark on us, constantly adding new ideas, stories, and insights. A mind continually in progress, he said, with infinitely more to be added.”

All the stories I’ve read have been my teachers, sheltering me when I needed comfort, making life richer, showing me how to face adversity. It’s never been a choice between fiction or reality, books or people, it’s both. 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.

Maybe all stories are love stories at their core. The search for belonging, the ache of grief, our fumbling attempt to find purpose and connection in this big, confusing world.