I love to read--this may or may not
come as a surprise. I can't remember when exactly my passion for books formed,
but I think it had something to do with my parents.
When I was young, my parents would
read with me. They spent time with each of us kids every night, reading to us
and--when we were old enough to read--with us. Together, we made it through
countless books that I still adore today, and want my own children to love
someday. Some of those books include Roald Dahl, Little House on the Prairie,
Holes, and Wayside School. The list is extensive, but the common
thread is that each of these books holds memories that pare priceless to me.
Even after my parents stopped
reading with me, I sustained that growing love of books and began to find that
although I loved many books, there were a few books that fundamentally rocked
my world, and lingered with me long after I had read the final chapter.
Today, I wanted to share with you
some of those books that changed me, and still have the power to change me when
I read them today. This list is by no means comprehensive; these are books
that I came up with during a (very) short brainstorming session, while at the same
time keeping more obvious books like Harry Potter out of the mix. I also tried
to keep the list limited to books I read pre-college. There are a couple I
couldn't resist adding that have rocked my world in recent years, but the
majority of these books are from elementary through high school.
So, without further ado, here are
some books that have rocked my world:
Ella Enchanted (Gail Carson Levine). This book has been a favorite of mine
since fourth grade. I got it from one of my favorite teachers in the world:
Mrs. Callentine. I LOVE this clumsy, spunky heroine of this Cinderella
retelling--it is a familiar story with a remarkably creative twist. For a story
that has been retold countless times, this version of the story was unexpected
and enjoyable. I fell in love with both major and minor characters, and want to
travel to the town of Frell, where this story takes place. To this day, Ella
Enchanted is a book that I turn to when feeling stressed or a need to feel
reminiscent.
Why this book changed my life: I think this was the first time that I had really read a
fairy tale retelling, and realized that the retelling of stories has
potential to be as much fun as the original story itself. I realized that
first-person perspective was a good way to really experience a book: to be able
to take up residence inside a character's head and experience the story
yourself (in a way).
Any book written by Eva Ibbotson. I
know this is cheating, but I could not narrow this incredible author to one
book. I do, however, have a couple "honorable mentions" that I will
share with you. When I was young, I fell in love with Which Witch, a
silly story about a good witch who desperately wants to be evil, so that she
can marry an evil warlock. It was fun because of the unusual storyline: after
all, in similar stories, doesn't the evil person want to change to be better?
Not so with this story. I loved it. Several years later, I saw Eva Ibbotson's
name again. I picked up a couple of her books, Countess below Stairs,
and The Morning Gift. Eva Ibbotson uses language that soars. She has an
incredible way with words that makes the story sink into you and stay there. It
is beautiful--and I just feel happy whenever I read something by Eva Ibbotson.
Why these books changed my life: Like I said, Ibbotson's prose sings. I didn't know language
could be built in that sort of pattern; I didn't know that describing a setting
or event could be so captivating. For me, I sometimes skim through long
paragraphs that have nothing going on, but with these books, I hold onto
every word, since Ibbotson makes sure each word is put to use and there is not
a syllable wasted.
Regarding the Fountain (Kate and M. Sarah Klise). This book is just--simply
put--fun. The character names, the story, and the illustrations all work
together to create a story you just want to be a part of. Each time I read this
book, I notice something new to be entertained by. There isn't a whole lot to
say about this book, other than it is wonderful. And, it made my list, so that
has got to count for something.
Why this book changed my life: I loved the unique style of this book. It is written
entirely in letters (the subtitle of the book is "a tale, in letters, of
liars and leaks") between members of a class and the eccentric fountain
designer. It was the first time I had read an epistolary novel, and have been
drawn to them ever since. Actually, this book inspired me to start writing an
epistolary novel on my own. That book never actually took off, but one day I
would like to still write it. This book also made me really want a pen pal so I
could write letters of my own.
The Hollow Kingdom (Clare B. Dunkle). This is TECHNICALLY a trilogy, but I
didn't know about the final two books until a couple years ago. This book is
awesome. I read it in junior high school, then didn't see it again for several
years. It stayed in my mind, but I could never remember the title. Then one
day, I had this crazy urge to read it again, but I had a problem: The only
thing I could remember about it was the cover (which had a girl in a red
cloak), and the fact that it had to do with goblins. After a bit of searching
and due to the amazingness of the internet, I was able to actually find the
book again (I firmly believe it was fate). The characters are so well-developed
that they FEEL human, and the storyline is super intriguing.
Why this book changed my life: This was my first leap into what I would consider
"deep" fantasy. I mean, it isn't as deep fantasy as some
novels I have read since, but we are talking goblins, elves, dwarves, and
magic. I loved it. Plus, the dialogue was clever and oftentimes witty, and
everything was so well-developed that I could imagine Clare Dunkle's world with
near-perfect clarity. I used to imagine that most books would be beautifully
portrayed by a movie, but this book changed my mind. I don't think that a movie
would do either the descriptions or characters justice. In fact, I would even
dare say that most books are better served by the power of your own
imagination. I wouldn't say that this book INTRODUCED me to the power of
imagination, but it certainly strengthened my belief in the importance and
power of a strong imagination. This is a lesson I hope I can carry to my
future family, since imagination seems to be something that is scoffed at more
and more,
The Water Trilogy (Kara Daley). I
have to admit, the first hook of this novel was that the main character was a
mermaid. There aren't many novels about mermaids, selkies, or sirens, so that
was intriguing to me. However, I was not expecting to read
the complicated and beautiful web of fantasy and myth that the novel
delivered. This is another book that I couldn't find again until just a couple
years ago; I reread it and fell in love all over again.
Why this book changed my life: This book reminds me of the simple joy of
reading. Sometimes it is preferable to read a difficult book, to stretch your
mind and completely engage yourself in the art of reading a novel. But this
book is simple. The entire trilogy only took a few days (at most) to get
through, and the language wasn't anything that was complicated. I found that it
was a relief to step back and to fill in some of the story myself, instead of
reading several hundred pages worth of description. In writing, this reminds me
that I don't have to use lofty prose or complicated words to get my point
across. The importance of a story is a matter of caring enough about the story
to tell it in the way that best suits, rather than the most complicated way
possible.
Anne of Green Gables. (L. M. Montgomery). I am ashamed to admit that I have only
read the first book of this delightful series. But from the first novel, I have
gathered one thing: Anne Shirley is my twin. I had no idea I could relate to a
fictional character so well, but Anne Shirley is a redheaded version of myself.
From her crazy antics to her wild imagination, I love this character. Now that
I am a little older, I realize how many similar experiences I share with Anne,
and how many times I created my own problems in my head. I now understand the
frequent eye-rolls I saw as a child, but that the imagination I shared with my
family has developed into something much more beautiful and less frivolous.
Anne matures incredibly throughout the first novel, and it gives me home that I
can have a healthy imagination and still be classy and elegant.
Why this book changed my life: Apart from the reasons I mentioned above, reading about
Anne Shirley was a very sobering experience for me. I learned that I had some
serious flaws that I needed to deal with, but that I could overcome them and
become a better person. I learned that maturity is a process, but not one
that involves giving up your fundamental values. I also learned that
there are "fluff" books, and books that have a lot of substance. I
think it is the same thing with lives. There are lives that have a lot of
substance, and I would like to live a life like that. And this book was a
guiding force that lead me toward that goal.
Peter Pan (J.M. Barrie). The whole premise and story of “the boy who
never grew up” is actually [somewhat] of an obsession of mine. I absolutely ADORE
Peter Pan. To me, this book is a perfect illustration of imagination. Plus, in
reading and rereading this book, I have found such an incredible depth to
Barrie’s writing that I learn something each time I read it. That is a
conversation for another day, but one of my tell-tale signs of a good book is
one I can read and analyze over and over and still enjoy reading.
Why this
book changed my life: I immersed myself into this book so
heavily, that Peter Pan became a part of who I was. I DREAMT I was Peter Pan,
for goodness sake! Now THAT is obsession you can’t fake. This book has the
perfect villain, and the childlike narration is delightful. This book helped me
realize that an author can’t help but put a little bit of themselves in their
writing; and that is okay.
Gone with
the Wind (Margaret Mitchell). In junior
high, I read this book because I had to take AR (accelerated reading) tests.
Basically, every student had to read books and try to earn a certain number of
points by taking tests about the books they read. I hated it, but tried to read
as many “big” books as I could so I could take fewer tests. Gone with the Wind was one of the
largest point values on the reading list, so I decided to give it a shot. I did
NOT expect to love this book. But I do. I have a love-hate relationship with
Scarlett O’Hara, and am one of the many women who has fallen in love with Rhett
Butler. This story is very rich in its historical import, and feels very
realistic.
Why this
book changed my life: I never realized that you could
hate a main character but still love a story until I read this. This was also
my first time venturing into the realm of historical fiction. I found that the
history aspect of the story pulled me in, and I found myself more interested in
American History than I had hitherto been. I had never thought about what an
incredible history America has, but this book made me learn more.
Inkheart (Cornelia Funke). This book is beautiful. Cornelia Funke is
actually a German author, and all of her work is translated. I believe that
translators stay fairly true to the original text (as much as is possible), so
I think it is fair to say that Cornelia Funke is an incredibly skilled author.
This book reminds me why I love books, and the storytelling transports me to
such a beautiful medieval-esque land, where good doesn’t always come out on
top, but where “the end” isn’t really the end. A world where stories exist
before they are told, and where they continue on after that last page is
turned. The cast of characters is a mix of good, evil, and in-between, and
range from normal, everyday people to fairies and fire dancers.
Why this
book changed my life: I think what I learn most from this
book is that people are not 100% good, but neither are they 100% evil. People,
for the most part, are trying to make it through life in the best way they know
how. I think we forget that sometimes, and in reading about all of these flawed
characters I learned that I am in no position to decide who is “good” and who
is “bad.” In fact, one of my very favorite characters in the series starts off
as a pawn for the villain in the novel. By the end of the trilogy, he has made
such a complete change, that he makes an incredible sacrifice for a character
he cares about.
Night
Circus (Erin Morgenstern). This book
actually only came out a couple years ago, but already it has had such a
profound influence on my life. It is a difficult book to explain, because the
imagery and story are very interdependent. Without the incredible descriptions
in this novel, the book loses a lot of its charm. And without the compelling storyline,
there is no reason for those descriptions. Every single element of the story is
important. There is no empty movement in this novel. Each item, each
interaction, and each element of the story has been thoughtfully planned out by
the author, and each leads to enhance the story as a whole. This book can be
accurately described as “enchanting.”
Why this
book changed my life: Erin Morgenstern loves writing. And
I am not just saying that because she has published a book. I am saying that
because every word and phrase in this novel indicates hours and days spent
agonizing over the perfect choice of words. Many other authors would have
settled for less-perfect-but-still-beautiful words and phrases, but to me Night Circus feels like there was an
incredible amount of thought put into it. I absolutely respect that, and admire
Erin Morgenstern for her debut novel. To me, this novel seems like it must
appear on paper as very similar to how the author first imagined it. This requires
an enormous amount of skill, and the layers of meaning in this book are
masterful. This is not a book to be devoured; this is a book to read and think
and analyze, even as you enjoy the journey. Erin Morgenstern has made me want
to write something beautiful and profound; that one day I can have my own novel
that has depth and power, as well as an engaging story.
Well, there you have it. Ten books that have changed my
life. What are some books that have changed yours? I would love to hear about
books that you read over and over again, not just to find out how it ends
(since that is accomplished by one reading), but those stories you read because
you love the world, or you love the characters, or because you simply love the
storyline so much that you want to get wrapped up in the journey one more time—even
though you know everything that will happen by heart.
Those are the kind of books we need more of those are the
books that really bring changes to us and the world.
