What Are Your Hospital Books?

So, as I have mentioned, I went to the hospital in late April. It was not really a calm, rational decision. No, it required lots of my mother going, "Jessica, do you need to go to the hospital?" and lots of me going, "I don't know," until finally I said yes.

Well, then I stood and we got ready to walk out the door. My friend was with us, and she asked if I needed anything (in a slightly panicky voice because you know her friend was going to the hospital) and I said, "Looking For Alaska." That was the first thing I thought of. Then when she brought it downstairs from my room she asked if there was anything else--because she is a very good friend--and I said, "The Rise of Renegade X."

So I walked into the hospital with nothing but the clothes on my person (which included Beavis and Butt-Head pajama pants, I might add), my mom, and two books in my bag.

It did not dawn on me until a week ago how interesting my decision was to me. How in a split second I picked the two books that gave me the most comfort. Looking For Alaska because of it's philosophical brilliance and stunning characterization, and The Rise of Renegade X for its hilariousness, fantastic plot, and awesome characters. Of course, I never actually got the chance to read either of these two books in the hospital due to an IV in the crook of my left elbow that rendered me one-handed. Still, it says a lot about those two books being the only things I needed in a moment of crisis. It says something about how much I love them and how I they are now with me for the long haul, because I would take these two books* anywhere. I would take them on a lonely journey; I would take them to a deserted island; I would take them to a hospital.

Which made me wonder, dearest readers: What are your "hospital books"?