Salem.

On this glorious snow day, I woke up with a clear goal planted in my mind: Read. All day. It is a very rare occasion that I actually have the time to plop into a cushy position on my bed, engulf myself in fluffy blankets, and crack open a good book, seeing as I'm usually so overwhelmed with my studies and other after school activities that I neglect my hobbies. But today, however, was a completely different tale, one that I am happy to say went according to plan. It felt so refreshing to finally take a day off for just myself—and the characters in whichever book I'm reading, of course—that I've decided that I must do this more often. Perhaps weekly, or even daily (if time allows).

The novel that stole my attention for the day was written by my favorite author, Jodi Picoult, and is about a man that gets accused of committing a heinous crime against a teenage girl that had taken an interest in him. Set in Salem Falls, New Hampshire, Salem Falls is a dark, spellbinding novel that took me through a loop, every new page unfolding another part of the mystery. Picoult really knows how to attack the heart of her readers, making her characters so unbelievably real that you could pass them on the street tomorrow without even thinking twice. She delves so deep into the storyline that the reader gets tied up, forcing him/her to continue reading to untangle him/herself from the mess Picoult left behind. She is, by far, the most detailed and elaborate author that I've ever read, and I'm so glad that the characters in Salem Falls were able to wind their way into my life today. If you haven't read any of her novels, I highly recommend them. You seriously will not regret picking up any of her novels, all of them dealing with such delicate topics that you won't be able to put them down.

Not to mention, the endings of her novels leave you craving even more. Just when you think you know the ending, she pulls a lever and sends you spiraling into uncharted territory, leaving you utterly speechless. I know I've never been able to predict a single one of her endings, and that's what makes them so enrapturing. She truly is a phenomenal author.

I can't help but to wonder if I'll ever be as good as her, considering I want to be an author. I know she puts so much time and effort into researching, and that's something I don't know if I'll ever be able to tackle. My goal in life is to write a novel that leaves my readers speechless, just like Jodi Picoult. I can honestly say she is one of my biggest and most influential inspirations for my short story writings, and I hope to be as good as her someday. And maybe, just maybe, I will be.