The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber really caught my attention. I enjoyed this story because I can relate to it very well. I also seem to day dream a lot and lose myself in my own thoughts about great fantasies. The imagination that Mitty showed in the story was amazing and very detailed, helping to paint an excellent image of what Mitty was thinking of. This story was also funny in the sense that he was always getting into trouble for letting his mind wonder off. His wife continuing to nag him about making sure he knew what was needed at the grocery store. It also shows that even though Mitty is supposed to act like an adult and live a life free of imagination he still drifts off into his wondrous day dreams on a regular basis, and people often criticize him about it. The emotion that best describes how I felt reading this story was joy. I was able to relate to the main character because of what we have in common. His ability to get lost in his mind and create other places and times with such detail is excellent. It helped me to see the joyous side in having a vivid imagination and the different types and degrees you can go into with day dreaming. “He wore his full-dress uniform, with the heavily braided white cap pulled down rakishly over one cold gray eye” is some of the descriptions that I could relate to because seeing this made me remember my time with the Air Force and seeing all the officers in charge in their dress uniforms.

I cannot recall reading any book that had a character such as this. Mitty is a one of a kind guy who has changed my views on day dreaming. This story let me know that it is not a necessarily bad thing to hold on to youth and dream about being a war hero or a highly intelligent and excellent surgeon trying to save the day. It is about how you stay true to who you are and being able to enjoy life as it is.