Day 4: Beyond the Borders + Giveaway!

"A reader lives a thousand lives." This quote is so true, and it's been proven time and time again, given that there have been so many stories written that have transported me to countless worlds. From creative characters, settings, themes, plot lines, to the overall feel and atmosphere of a book... they all made me have the ability to step into somebody else's life, somebody else's world, somebody else's shoes.

Books That Transported Me Into A Different World/Culture

• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosselini - a familial story set during many periods from the fall of Afghanistan's monarchy all the way to the rise of the Taliban regime. 
• Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum - offers a different perspective of a realistic character about her life in Germany during World War II. 
• A Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie - gorgeous writing about a Native American teenage boy growing up in an all white high school. 

A Book That Transported Me Into a Fantasy World

I can easily list the world of Harry Potter here as well as LOTR, but I won't because that's kind of a given. Instead, I want to mention a book that is fairly well-known, but also strangely underrated, and that is The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly. There is something seriously twisted and creepy about this book, and the world that the author portrayed is familiar (fairy tale retelling), yet such a foreign place at the same time. And how the author writes... fantastic and brilliant!

Latest Book That Made Me Step Into Someone Else's Shoes

There have been many books that made me see different perspectives and worldviews that it's a bit hard to come up with a list. I will name the last book though that made me experience the life of a different human being, and the book that gave me that opportunity was Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. I absolutely love and appreciate the outdoors, and one of my favorite things to do when/if I get the chance is to explore different National Parks. But the man that this book is about is totally beyond me and any adventurous person I have ever known.
The non fiction book is written by a writer and mountaineer, primarily known for his stories about the outdoors, and covers Chris McCandless' venture alone to Alaska. Chris M. gave everything away and left everybody he knew, and went on an adventure, into the wild. I completely immersed myself in this book, even doing additional research on his life outside of this book. I will never truly understand the way this man thought, how his mind worked, and why he made certain decisions, but it was a very surreal and interesting experience to hear about his story.

Giveaway Time!
The prize is ONE book up to $20 of your choice from Book Depository! I believe this website ships internationally, so anyone is free to enter.
To win, all you have to do is leave a comment, recommending me a favorite book of yours that you think I will love! (I am open to any suggestions) Also, leave your email and link to your blog so I can contact you and visit you as well! Contest closes at the end of Armchair BEA, when I do my wrap up post on the 31st! Good luck!

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