"There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in its life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves the nest it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon the longest, sharpest spine. And, dying, it rises above its own agony to out-carol the lark and the nightingale. One superlative song, existence the price. But the whole world stills to listen, and God in His heaven smiles. For the best is only bought at the cost of great pain.... Or so says the legend."- The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

The Thorn Birds is special to me for a few reasons. The story is poignant and tragic, but carries lessons people could use to learn: to keep an eye on your own ambition and make sure that ambition doesn't hurt the ones you love, and to try to always be true to how you feel. The miniseries and a worn paperback copy of the book are memories I have of my grandmother. She adored the story and we watched a re-airing of the miniseries together when I was 12. That paperback belonged to her and she eventually gave it to me. Though I don't have the book itself anymore, the story will always be a source of great emotion for me.