Ever since I was a little girl I was raised in the world of books that were filled with magic realism, knights, princesses, talking animals, and more. They were the ones that I escaped to when my anxiety was taking over, they were the ones that comforted me when I was sad and unable to cope with certain things; they were also the ones that shaped my way of thinking, the way I view the world and how I approached life in general. For me, books were and still are the best way that I relax. It could be a beautiful sunny day and I will bring a book outside and lay beneath a tree, or it could be raining cats and dogs outside but I will be cuddled up on the couch with my dogs and read away.

These are the top books that shaped me:

LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE BY LAURA ESQUIVEL

Photo Credit by Laura Esquivel

The book follows the youngest daughter Tita in her own world where she is forbidden to marry her one true love, Pedro, this is due to the family tradition where the youngest daughter must take care of the mother. Instead of being able to marry Tita, Pedro instead marries her older sister Rosaura in order to stay closer to her.

This book made a huge impact on me, not only as a young child who loved love and all things about it, but also as a writer. Magic realism is a major theme throughout the entire novel while we watch the love of Pedro and Tita grow and face hurdles.

BLESS ME, ULTIMA BY RUDOLFO ANAYA

Photo Credit by Rudolfo Anaya

Published in 1972, this coming-of-age novel centers around Antonio Márez y Luna and his curandera, Ultima. Throughout the entire novel we are able to see Antonio witness what happens when humans become beasts in the form of murder, as well as finding his own spiritual take on everything around him while he is under the protection of Ultima.

The ALCHEMIST BY PAULO COEHLO

Photo Credit by Loni Hoots

The spiritual coming-of-age novel follows a young boy named Santiago who receives visions of a far off place in his dreams that tell him to pack up everything to pursue this unknown plan. Along the way he encounters a gypsy, a king, and even the true love of his life in North Africa.

The Alchemist has made a huge impact on me in many ways, due to the fact ever since I was little I have always been on a quest of enlightenment. This book has been in many ways been a reference to look back on.

A ROOM WITH A VIEW BY E.M. FORSTER

Photo Credit by Goodreads

E.M. Forster has always been a controversial author, more so when he was alive and wrote about subjects that were frowned upon. With A Room With A View E.M. Forster tried to crush the ideology of the Edwardian era with the main character Lucy feeling strained by the pressures of her family and society to find a "suitable" match, and learn her place. However, when Lucy goes to Italy with her cousin Charlotte she meets the one person who understands her and truly loves her, unlike her current potential suitor.

This romance book has to be one of my top favorite books of the romance genre of all time, and because of it I've developed a healthy self worth image, a sense of adventure, a passion for life, and have been a hopeless romantic ever since the first time I read it.

JANE EYRE BY CHARLOTTE BRONTE

Photo Credit by Penguin Random House

If you have never read this book then you are certainly missing out, because Jane Eyre is one of the all time classic novels to have ever graced the shelves. The subject matter is all over the place from death of family and friends, to finding ones place in the society that they live in, to finding love in the most unusual places with the most unusual people, and to even crazy women in the attic.

Charlotte wrote Jane in the most unusual way for her time, making her small, elfish, plain, and just being an average woman whereas most novels center around extremely gorgeous women. And to someone like myself, I felt in many ways I could resonate with Jane, and have developed a strong personality to where I no longer allow myself to meek, but to defy all expectations of what a woman should be, how to speak, or even how to love.