Apparently there is a challenge thing that was going around Facebook and Tumblr recently where you were supposed to list 10 books that have stayed with you or affected you in some way. I missed that memo, but I saw something about it the other day and it got me thinking. I have read so many books. I honestly have no idea how many and it would be pointless to try to guess because I wouldn't even know where to start. And I'm not just saying that because I was an English major in college. I'm saying it because it's the truth. I read voraciously. I read more than one book at a time, I read quickly, and I read constantly. So how do I pick from the hundreds of books that I have read and list 10 that have affected me more than the rest? Let's just say it wasn't easy.
In no particular order.
Harry Potter series
I am proud to say that I am a part of the Harry Potter generation. I literally grew up with this series and its characters. I was 15 when Deathly Hallows came out and the series ended. I was still a kid, a teenager, and the series had a major impact on me and how I view the world. I don't quite remember when I first started reading the series. It's like the books were always there. I do remember going to a midnight release of Order of the Phoenix. It was such a cool experience. And I spent the next day devouring the book. I ignored my family, built a nest, and hid there until I finished the book. For me, the series is more than just books. I view the characters as friends because I know them so well and for so long. And the series isn't about magic. It's about love, friendship, family, evil, hate, prejudice, and hope. It's about so much and is so beautiful. It's a series that can instantly reawaken the child within me, in the same manner that even the mention of visiting Disney does. I can't exactly put into words what the series means to me. Sometimes I feel that it is a part of me, something that has always been there and always will be.
The Lord of the Rings, including The Hobbit and The Silmarillion
I tend to refer to Tolkien's works collectively as LOTR, so when I say that know that I am referring to all his works dealing with Middle Earth. LOTR has done for me as an adult what Harry Potter did for me as a child. That is to say, it has became a major influence in my life. And not just because I insisted on doing my Senior Seminar presentation on Tolkien. I have 2 previous posts devoted to the impact that Tolkien has had on my life. I don't think I need to rehash everything. But I will say that Tolkien's works have become more important to me as I've grown older. When I was younger I was entranced by the way he wrote and by the story in general. Now, I'm in love with the world, the people, the history of what happens in the stories and the history of how the stories were created. The series has just become exponentially more important. I love LOTR for the things not seen in the movies. For the relationship between Eowyn and Faramir, and her strength. For the friendship and brotherhood between Faramir, Eomer and Aragorn. For the return to the Shire after the ring is destroyed. For Fatty Bolger. For the Noldor and their folly. For Beren and Luthien. For every little detail from beginning to end. And just like Harry Potter, LOTR is so deeply ingrained in me that I can feel it in my bones.
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice
I know Shakespeare is a great author and his works are classic, blah blah blah, but I have never particularly loved any of his works. They force you to read a few in high school and they were okay but never really stuck with me. Then in college I had an entire class devoted to Shakespeare. And we read Othello. And that was that. I was in love. I've always liked Shakespeare's tragedies better, although Much Ado About Nothing has recently become a favorite in movie form at least, but none of his other tragedies had caught my attention as much as Othello did. I'm not sure if it's the interracial couple that I love so much (Othello is black and Desdemona is white) or if it's the fact that Iago in Aladdin was named after the villain in Othello. It's certainly not because of the extreme lack of communication throughout the play. It aggravates me that Othello and Desdemona are unable to communicate with each other in any way that could be effective. However without their stupidity the play would have no point so it serves a purpose. And they truly did love one another. Maybe that's why it spoke to me: the idea that two people could love each other so much and yet so quickly fall into mistrust, jealousy, rage, and murder.
Pride and Prejudice
Yes, it's rather cliche to have this novel on my list. But I truly love this book. I am a hopeless romantic at heart and this book feeds on that desire within me. The relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy is wonderful and quiet. It sneaks up on you until all of a sudden it's there and you wonder how you ever missed it. And I love that it always takes me a little bit to adjust to the language of the novel, and then for days after finishing it I think and speak in the same manner. I feel that I've been reading this book all my life and I still immensely enjoy it every time I begin reading it again.
The Blue Sword
I've come to love the works of Robin McKinley, and it's all because of this book. It's beautifully written and so incredibly real that I can't help but love it. It's one of the first books I read where the heroine has to stand on her own, not because she's destined to but simply because she's in the right place at the right time. And although the romance is very subtle, I still love the relationship between Harry and Corlath. This is one of those books that I could read once a month and never grow tired of. There are few books I can say that about but for this it's absolutely true. It's a book that I cannot get enough of no matter how many times I read it.
The Book Thief
I love this book because it's so different from other stories about World War II. It's about a child, it's about Germans, and it's narrated by Death. It's much funnier than it should be but also sad enough to break your heart. And for a book geared towards children, it has a very powerful message about a dark time in recent history. It deals with real-life issues and things that are hard to talk about but something that should not be forgotten. I won't get into the novel here because I've written about it before. So if you want to know more of my thoughts then go read my other post. But let's just say that it is a truly wonderful, beautiful book and well worth the read.
The Circle Trilogy: Black, Red, White
Officially it's a series now, not a trilogy, as there is a fourth book but for the purpose of this list I'm only referring to the first 3 novels. The Circle trilogy is, simply put, about Jesus and God's love for humanity. It's a retelling of the fall of Adam and Eve, of the chosen people, and of the sacrifice of Jesus. The story is set in our world but also in another world, which is where the retelling takes place. This series is beautiful. I can't say much more than that. It's a breathtaking story and will make you cry but it is just so magnificent. Sometimes I think we need a fresh perspective on Jesus and His sacrifice, and to be reminded again of what He did for us. That's what this series is for me. It's a reminder of who Jesus is and who we are to Him.
Jane Eyre
Sometimes I love this novel more than Pride & Prejudice. There's something about Jane Eyre that Pride & Prejudice doesn't have. And I certainly can't decide if I like Rochester or Darcy more. Both are equally lovely in my eyes. What I like about Jane Eyre is how quiet and unassuming Jane is yet at the same time how strong and fierce she is. Jane is quite willing to stand up for herself, even if it means losing someone she loves. She's determined to always do the right thing and not to give false hope to people. She's a strong woman but that doesn't mean she wants to remain single forever. Although she's described as being plain, I think she's beautiful in many ways. And the hopeless romantic in me love that she gets her happy ending after everything.
Life of Pi
What could be more interesting than a boy stuck on a lifeboat with an adult tiger? It's a terrifying thought but at the same time I can't stop thinking about how cuddly tigers look. Until they eat your face, that is. What I absolutely adore about this book is that it's categorized as a work of fiction but seems so incredibly real. I can imagine everything in the novel happening. It's very cleverly written in that respect. And it even addresses the question of reality at the end, when Pi tells the investigators a second, more believable story since they don't like the one with the animals. Life of Pi is a grand adventure on the high seas, full of wild animals, dangerous creatures, near death situations, and the hope that maybe things will end nicely.
Deerskin
I absolutely adore this book because it is everything a fairy tale should be. It's a retelling of a very dark fairy tale and it keeps that feeling. It's not a happy book, at least not in the Disney sense of fairy tales. But it's true to the way fairy tales were written, which is what appeals to me so much. It's also written by Robin McKinley, which is honestly part of the reason I like it so much. And I've already written about the book so if you want to know more then go read my previous post about it. But I will say that this has quickly become a favorite of mine and a book that I can read over and over again.
