There are many books out there that have made a huge impact on our lives. Whether you barely read or consider yourself a bookworm, there is always at least one book that has changed your life in one way or another. Here are some books that have helped us survive college, transformed our way of thinking, and have paved the way for our future.
1. "The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas"—Gertrude Stein
"Changed my world and pushed me to pursue an MA in modernism." - Karli
2. "Nightwood"—Djuna Barnes
"Nightwood was presented to me as a more challenging read because of the stream of consciousness style of writing, but I found myself getting sucked in by her words. After finishing the book, I started reading up on the author and the backstory, as it was based on her relationship with Thelma Wood. Nighthood is what sparked my interest in archival work, and I have taken off with that sort of research since then." - Sydney
3. "Through Painted Deserts: Light, God, and Beauty on the Open Road"—Donald Miller
"It's about exploring who you are regardless of your surroundings; in fact, in light of your surroundings. Every time I read it I am connecting back to who I really am." - Adrienne
4. "Paradise Lost"—John Milton
"I loved the story and I'd never seen that style of prose that was really accessible. It opened my eyes to older literature." - Aimee
5. "As I Lay Dying"—William Faulkner
"It's a grim book with dark themes, among other notable books. I'm much more conscious of my mortality, the fragility of life, its meaning and/or its lack of meaning and time." - Peter
6. "Ms. Hempel Chronicles"—Sarah Shun-lien Bynum
"The author's style of elevating small, routine events as fantastic, while concealing more life-changing, major events was something I'd never seen... The story follows the journey of a middle school English teacher as she comes to self-discovery, just as her students are. I am also a hopeful English teacher and may encounter similar experiences to Ms. Hempel. My own worries, concerns, doubts, and desires as a young teacher were plainly seen, challenged, and inspired." - Lauren
7. "Candide"—Voltaire
-Josh
8. "The Sound and the Fury"—William Faulkner
"Really cool anachronistic time lapses and formal experimentation, like automatic writing, stream of consciousness, and free-indirect discourse. I love that stuff." - Karli
"It was so thematically deep, profound, and mind-boggling." - Peter
9. "The Wasteland and Other Poems"—T. S. Elliot
"'The Wasteland' opened my eyes to poetry. In one of my first college classes, we read 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' and it changed my perspective about modernism. I immediately went to the bookstore and bought the whole collection" -Danielle
10. "Kiffe Kiffe Demain"—Faïza Guène
"After learning French, it changed my perspective to read about a different culture in the language that surrounds that culture." - Isabella
11. "Citizen: An American Lyric"—Claudia Rankine
"Not only does it explore incredibly prevalent issues (racial micro-aggressions in the U.S.), but it is stylistically really unique with a blend of visual and textual style." - Anonymous
12. "This Boy's Life: A Memoir"—Tobias Wolff
"Besides a new style of staccato, tight prose that I found to be completely unique, it taught me that literature is all about how you say it, not the content. It's a memoir of his early years, but there's nothing particularly significant about his life. He wasn't a globetrotter or the son of a celebrity. This book taught me that your story MATTERS, your personhood MATTERS." - Dan
Some honorable mentions: "The Price of Salt" by Patricia Highsmith, "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville, "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky, "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" by Mark Twain.
There are thousands of books just waiting to be opened. Some of them may change your life and you'll carry them with you forever.
