Yes, I know this is the movie poster. The movie came out the same year I was born. I love the book cover in person, I think all 7 of the original Harry Potter covers are some of the best book covers I’ve ever seen. All of them are colorful and charming. The fact that they were made with oil pastels makes me feel good inside. As someone who went to art school I find comfort in knowing they were made without computers. Even the page at the end of every volume dedicated to explaining the designer’s choice of font. When a book has a page about the font choice, I know I’m going to love it.

Starry night was something I used to hate. Every time I saw it on posters or coffee mugs or shirts, I thought it was one of the most overrated things I had ever seen. And then I read his story. Kind and creative, but forever outcast by society. In his lifetime he never found a place he fit. He Punished himself by walking barefoot for hours on end in raging thunderstorms. When I see his paintings now I think of the life he went through. I know everyone had it hard back then, but he took those hardships and made them better. When I paint and draw and write things like this on NeoCities, I think often of him. How no one will read this but me. How I will never make money from my creations and I will die alone and in poverty. Van Gogh gives me the strength to carry on and keep living one more day.

It took seven years and three tries to read this. The first time was high school. I got through about 100 pages before giving up. I had read Crime and Punishment that year, but if I’m being honest, I didn’t really understand it. When I went to university I tried to read it again and failed. It wasn’t until I began a lazy office job at a community college when I finished the entire volume. At the time I was depressed, anxious and lonely. Still am. This time I read a few outside summaries to make sure I understood everything. I sympathize a lot with Aloyosha; the way he interacts with those school children, the faith he has and the love he has for others. It’s hard to describe why this book is so memorable to me, but I know I will never forget it.