Literature has the capability to shape a life, to teach a lesson, to evoke a feeling, to inspire new ideas. I have certainly read my fair share of bad books, and have also begun books that I just couldn't bring myself to finish. But, I have also read books that challenged and changed my views, taught me compassion and understanding, and simply played a role in shaping me into the being I am today. Here are the top 10 books that impacted my life:
1. "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
This book kindled my love for American literature. It taught me that not all characters should be likable, to remain hopeful but also plan for the worst, and that you should always remain compassionate.
"'Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,' he told me, 'just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.'" -- Mr. Carraway, the father of Nick Carraway
2. "Bluets" by Maggie Nelson
This poetry book made me begin to view objects and things as more than just that. Through reading "Bluets," I learned how to observe the details that surrounded me, and also the ones that existed within me.
"Does the world look bluer from blue eyes? Probably not, but I choose to think so (self-aggrandizement)." -- Maggie Nelson
3. "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs
When I read this book, it was like a whole other world had opened up to me. I began to see everything in a different light, and finally became OK with being different.
"I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life, but my life was never ordinary." -- Jacob Portman
4. "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho
This book inspired me with its simplicity. I found myself copying nearly every page into my journal for safe-keeping. This book is clear in its message, but allows for the reader to apply what is being given to different moments and situations in their own lives.
"He never realized that people are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of." -- The old man
5. "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov
A beautiful and incredibly challenging book. Reading "Lolita" is like living in constant contradiction -- it's so beautiful, but so wrong.
"In and out of my heart flowed my rainbow blood." -- Humbert Humbert
6. "The Gift Moves" by Steve Lyon
My first, real favorite book. I received a copy on my 11th birthday, and have since read it 18 times. "The Gift Moves" taught me that in order to receive, I must give; and in order to become full, I must find passion and love in my work.
"Because you seemed to be alive in what you were doing." -- Bird Speaks
7. "The Realm of Possibility" by David Levithan
I don't think I have ever felt so much while reading a book. I can't even start to explain the connection I, or anyone, could have with this book. By writing the same stories in multiple perspectives, Levithan allows for connections to be made between the narrators and reader, and for previous perceptions to be challenged. Amazing!
"Here's what I know about the realm of possibility -- it is always expanding, it is never what you think it is." -- Jed
8. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
When I picked this up as a mandatory read in high school, I could not stand it. But when I read a copy on my own time, my own terms, I found myself more wrapped up in the story and moral lessons than I would've ever imagined. If you have read this book for school, I urge you to read it again for pleasure (trust me).
"Best way to clear the air is to have it all out in the open." -- Atticus Finch
9. "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living" by Dale Carnegie
At first, I picked up this tattered and yellow copy of the novel at my local thrift store for 50 cents as a sort of joke. I am a worrier, a worrier with a capital W, and I thought maybe just owning the book would soothe that. One day during my junior year history class, I decided to crack open my copy, and before I knew it, I had highlighted half of the book. So, I haven't stopped worrying, but I truly learned some new things about myself and my habits.
"Concentrate with all your intelligence, all your enthusiasm, on doing today's work superbly today." -- Dale Carnegie
10. "Falling Into Theory" by David H. Richter
So, this book is the only one on this list that I wouldn't necessarily recommend to everyone; but, this book is extremely significant to me. I was first lent this book by my English teacher this past year, and was reluctant to actually read it because of the daunting title. Eventually, I started to read a few of the essays, and have since delved headfirst into the book in its entirety. This book is my first of many Lit-theory books, and will always hold a special place in my heart (plus it ignited my love of Bell Hooks).
"Those books prompted physical sensations, a forgetting of the self and complete absorption in another world." -- Janice A. Radway
