The Special World of Books

"Tell us about your favorite book. Or maybe give us a top 5 of the books that changed your life."

(via thegreatgrowingup.com)

I can't say if this is true for other only children, but for me, the world of books was my escape, my brothers and sisters and travel companions. The characters in books taught me lessons about life that I missed out on by not having anyone older to ask or younger to be an example for. Saturdays were spent in bookstores as opposed to toy stores. I loved Crown Books because their prices were cheaper and Borders always put the annoying giant price sticker that covered some of the back cover summary. But now that both Crown Books and Borders have closed their doors, I am simply sad at the reality that print reading and spending endless Saturdays in bookstores isn't as common for children nowadays as it was for me.

When I got to high school, I enjoyed reading the more literary classics for English class, but was introduced to analyzing those classics in such a way that discouraged me from thinking that I could understand and analyze those books on my own. As a result, the books I read for pleasure were definitely more along the "trashy girl books" and "young adult (YA) lit" that I was resigned to believing had no literary value.

During college though, I took a class called "Adolescent Literature" in the Education Dept, where we read these young adult books for assignments. We discussed how the themes and structure of these books have immense educational value in that by nature, YA books have themes that are relevant to teenagers/high school students and could better connect to high school students than simply the typical classics. Needless to say, my love for YA literature was renewed, and even though I've gotten around to reading more "grown up" books, it's still very true that many of the books that have influenced me could be found in the YA section.

The Classic: Little Women (and Good Wives) by Louisa May Alcott

The epitome of a book with "the sisters I never had," Little Women was one of those epic books that followed the characters over many years. At some point, I resonated with each of the sisters (even Amy, as much as I disliked her). Jo was definitely my favorite, and knowing that Alcott based Jo on herself and Little Women on her own life with her sisters, whenever I wrote stories, I always had a character that I based on myself. I definitely think that Little Women encouraged me to be my own little writer. Also, since my copy is both Little Women and Good Wives together, I don't really know where the books are separated, but I definitely know that the later parts of the story were also essential in cultivating my love for these characters and this story. 

The Magical: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

I actually reviewed this book for my Adolescent Literature class, which I posted here. This book bridged my love for fairy tales to a love for fantasy novels. It's action-packed, silly, and full of fun and magic...and the movie is also one of my favorite Studio Ghibli films. Even though the film diverges from the movie, it still captures the beauty and fun of the book...so both are a definite must! 

The One that Taught Me about Philosophy: Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder

15-year-old Sophie lives in Norway in 1990. A few months before her 15th birthday, she begins receiving mysterious messages, and after responding, begins a secret correspondence with a philosopher to learn about the history of philosophy. 

I just recently finished this book after months of slow slow reading. I love this book because it's purpose is two-fold, in addition to wanting to find out the reasons behind all the mysterious happenings in Sophie's life, there is also substantial almost lecture-like teachings on all of the major philosophers throughout history. While I was reading this book, I, like Sophie, became a student of philosophy and worked on my personal reflections on the different modes of thought that have impacted our history. Even though the protagonist is 15, this book is definitely one that both adults and young adults can benefit from reading. 

The One that Mended my Hurting Heart: He's Just Not that Into You by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo

Again, I reviewed it here, but just to put it shortly, I know this books is way over the top and overgeneralizes and there is a lot wrong with it--but I would be lying if I said that this book didn't change my life. The summer after sophomore year of college I was in a rut academically and personally...well, romantically personally. Reading this at that time gave me the pep talk that none of my girl friends could give without appearing harsh. It let me cry out of self-pity without giving away that I was even more fragile than they already thought. And it gave me a frame of reference that I wasn't completely alone in my failings. It helped in putting a lot of stuff behind me and move forward, and for that I am truly grateful. So many not for all or all the time, but still a very interesting read. 

The Contemporary Females: The Year of Secret Assignments (or Finding Cassie Crazy as titled in the UK and Australia) by Jaclyn Moriarty. 

For a long time, I would say this was my favorite book. It was so funny, and structured differently from a regular novel. This is the 2nd in the Ashbury/Brookfield series, but I never read the others (nor really knew they existed until I looked up a cover shot for this blog post). In the novel, the Year 10 English teacher at Ashbury (think preppy all-girls school) is making the girls write to the "scary" Brookfield students on the other side of town. The story is told completely through letters, notes passed, IM convos, diary entries, etc, but I loved how the characters and story still felt so well-developed. It's an easy read and just so fun an ridiculous. If you like Meg Cabot, you'll like this too. 

Ahhhh there are still so many more! If it's what impacted me the most when I was a kid, I'd say the Babysitters' Club series by Ann M. Martin. Or Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. Or Meg Cabot's The Princess Diaries. And of course Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. I recently read Ender's Game and another Orson Scott Card novel called Enchantment, which I love loved, and got me back into reading more fantasy epics. In Japan I read Murakami's Norweigian Wood and The Wind Up Bird Chronicle, which was so disturbing but enticing all at the same time. Through my library I was able to borrow Girl with a Dragon Tattoo, which was a crazy DaVinci Code-type crazy ride, and charged through The Girl Who Played with Fire so quickly that I just couldn't read the third one because of the emotional roller coaster the first two put me through. 

Now I just want to reread all of these! I know I haven't read nearly enough new books, but I just love rereading old favorites :). 

I hope I shared some interesting books with you! If you have any to share with me, please do :) I find that books recommended by friends are surely good reads!