Books. When we were kids, we would stare at those stacks of paper, confused by the scattered symbols and lines forming rows upon rows of writing, these symbols seemed omnipresent – ​​appearing in Mom's recipe book and Dad's textbook. We didn't know that behind the riddle of words lie worlds of mass imagination, where you can cast spells with your bare hands, where you can lift objects with your mind and teleport using a portkey. These stacks of paper allow us to travel to faraway places, sail the seven seas and soar above the highest clouds. It is through books that we are allowed to travel as many journeys as we can read. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay My reading journey began with The Martian by Andy Weir. This novel is a mix between science fiction and drama involving an impossible mission for one man: to survive alone on a barren planet for more than a year and a half. The Martian incorporates a variety of themes that are heavily present in the text – author Andy Weir makes it clear in his writing how much Mark's emotions affect him. Isolation is one of the major themes of this text, Mark feels abandoned and alienated – and coupled with this prolonged isolation, he longs for another human sole to talk to or see, for a sense of hope and connection. Although Watney faces life-and-death situations daily, he learns to adapt and make changes, all while being alone, "[He] would give anything for a five-minute conversation with n no matter who. Anyone, anywhere. About anything.” Humor is another theme that Mark seems to be able to understand even in his current situation - however this humor is not so much pure as it is a mask to hide his true emotions and to pick himself up when he slips. “Mark Watney, Space Pirate” uses humor as a feeling of hope and a way of telling yourself that everything is okay, “when I go home, I want all the praise to go to me.” The audience understands that Mark is in the most difficult situation possible and when he records these bad situations that arise, he uses his humor to sugarcoat the fact that he is constantly being taken back to square one. These stacks of paper allow us to travel to distant places, sail the seven seas and soar above the highest clouds, it is through books that we are allowed to travel as many journeys as we can read. Reading The Martian, Mark's story, we can at least partially feel the joy, pain, and disappointment encountered by the novel's protagonist. By reading this story you can see how isolation can affect a person. How Mark escaped to survive because he had an extremely strong desire to live. The books not only develop imagination and teach reading, but also show real (almost) lived stories that everyone can discover..