Reading is one of my most favorite activities. No matter the day, time if you were to run into me I would most likely be glued to my kindle or a book, engulfed in the book's world. Not only is reading fun, but books also teach important life lessons and are often life changers. Here are seven books that have greatly influenced my life and that hold a special place in my library.

"Tuesdays With Morrie"

This book is one of the most life changing, influential books I have ever read. It follows the story of a student and professor that rekindle their relationship as a result of the professor's diagnosis of ALS and every Tuesday that they meet the professor teaches a new life lesson. What makes this books so touching is not only do you see the horrible progression of ALS but also the lessons that Morrie teaches Mitch are lessons that we all need to know/remember and that life does not always work out like you hoped but there is always a chance to change things.

2. "To Kill a Mockingbird"

This book is both a classic and also very famous. In case you somehow don't know the plot, the story follows a 6 year old white girl whose father is defending an African American man in the 60's, despite the harsh racism prevalent during that time. This story teaches that what someone looks like on the outside does not matter but who the person is inside does. This book also teaches that you should never judge or make fun of someone else without understanding their situation. Also, to be able to see the goodness in a cruel world.

3. "The Cross Gardener"

This is also a very touching, but sad book. The story follows a husband whose wife and future child die in a horrible car accident and he decides to erect crosses at the scene of the accident and when he visits the next day he discovers a mysterious man, tending to the crosses and they meet every day and he helps the husband deal with his grief. This book teaches us that it is okay to grieve but that we should not let our grief control our life and that we have to learn to move on, if not for ourselves but our loved ones.

4. "Speak"

This book is also very moving and inspiring. This novel follows a teenager names Melinda who calls the police to bust a party and is ostracized by her peers because she can't say what really happened at the party but through her art she learns to express herself and come to terms with what happened. This novel shows how hard it is for people to recover after a traumatic experience and how hard it is to face traumatic experiences.

5. "Wintergirls"

Another book by Laurie Halse Anderson this book follows the story of an anorexic teenager that battles her eating disorder and body dysmorphia. This book is inspiring because eating disorders are one of the hardest things to manage and no matter how much help you try to give someone it is ultimately up to them to want to change their ways. This book is very well written and really portrays the mental aspect of this disorder.

6. "The Great Gatsby"

This is another classic that most people have heard of but if you haven't, the story follows the story of Nick who tells us the story of this man named Jay Gatsby that he met and how energetic he was but flawed. The lesson that this book teaches is that it is better to leave the past in the past and live in the now. Gatsby's biggest mistake was trying to win back his old girlfriend that he loved but had to leave and she moved on while he didn't.

7. "The Well"

This book is both well written and inspiring. A London couple decide to move out to the country to a beautiful property that is the property of there dreams, until everything falls apart. This books shows the power of religion and how everything falls apart when disaster strikes. Also, that people who seem like they can be trusted actually turn out to be frauds so you must always be careful. Lastly, that we all make decisions that we ultimately regret but we should not let these decisions control our lives.