Books That Changed My Life

So the Top Ten Tuesday theme this week is the top ten books that changed your life.  And my immediate reaction was “Ummmm… just ten?”  After all, don’t all books change us in some way or another?  Obviously, we do not walk away from most books completely different and with a totally fresh mindset, but when we read a book we are in deep communication with the author, and anytime we touch another human being that closely, we are bound to change a bit.

But of course, that is me over thinking things again, and I realized I need to head the wise advice to “keep it simple stupid.”.  And so I tried to narrow it down to the ten books that have had the biggest impact on my thinking, beliefs, and sometimes even the trajectory of my life.  And so here goes (in no particular order.)

The Red Tent: I read this book about a year ago, shortly after my youngest daughter was born.  I would spend hours on end nursing her to sleep in the evenings, and I had this book at my side.  There is so much that can be taken from this book (and many groups try to use it as a champion of their cause,) but what I loved the most about it was the community the women created.  Throughout the book, real, deep and true sisterhoods developed between the main character and other women.  It reminded me of what is possible when we come together and just how shattered our communities have become.

Angela’s Ashes: I think I’ve mentioned this on this blog before, so I won’t go into too much detail, but in short, this book helped convince me to quit my job and move a couple of hours away to pursue a graduate degree in a field I never really studied before.  And it was a major catalyst for my decision to start blogging.  It’s powerful.  And heartbreaking.  And beautiful.

Mere Christianity: This book changed my view of Christianity.  By taking the denominational differences away, I was able to see what binds all Christians together.  Because of that, I was able to focus on what I believe are fundamental truths.  It has played a large role in the way I view faith and Christianity today.

Gone with the Wind:  This book didn’t so much change my worldview as it changed my view of books.  It taught me that guilty pleasure books are a wonderful way to spend some time.  And it reminded me of just how addictive a good book can be.  This is the ultimate romance novel, and I plan to read it again very soon.  I just wish I would be reading it again for the first time because the plot twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat!

The Kite Runner:  I read this one during the beginning times of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars.  I don’t remember the year I read it, but it was when those wars were still front and center on the news and in everyone’s minds (as they sadly are not these days.)  It helped me realize just how much the news media dehumanizes cultures we are at war with.  By reading the book (and learning about Afghan culture) at the same time I was watching how that same culture was portrayed on television, I was able to see just how much the media paints peoples as one dimensional.  I could write an entire book on this topic, but needless to say, I don’t see our world in anywhere near the same way as I used to.

The Little House on the Prairie Series: To be honest, I don’t remember the plot of this entire series, and I don’t think I actually read all of the books.  What I do remember is the blue box that the series came in and the illustrations by Garth Williams.  My dad used to get me and my sister on his lap in the evenings, and he would read to us from these books.  I don’t remember how old I was at the time, but I was really little, and I don’t remember the storylines so much, but I vividly remember how exciting it was to read those books, and how safe I felt wrapped up on the couch with my dad and sister.  And that memory is what leads me to make sure that I read to my girls every day and that when I do, we relax on the couch and make it an event.  It’s what made me so excited to start reading Magoo her first chapter book.  I want them to have those same wonderful associations from childhood that I do.

Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls: This is a tough book.  It was written in the early 90’s and has had quite a few published responses to it.  The book is written by a psychologist who was wondering why she was seeing so many young women with such deep emotional issues.  She interviews the girls, and we hear first hand voices of the struggles the girls go through while growing up.  She discusses everything from friendships, sex, and love to food and violence.  It was an odd read because she wrote it at the time when I was a teenager and the girls speaking were of my generation and yet I kept thinking about my daughters and their generation and how some things have changed and how some have stayed the same.

Man’s Search for Meaning: I won’t go into a ton of detail on this one either because I’ve mentioned it multiple times on here.  It’s not a book to read while depressed because it is dark in many instances.  But what I believe is most valuable about the book is how it takes perhaps the darkest era of human history and helps people find meaning from it.

Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter: And I end with this book.  I didn’t start knitting because of the Yarn Harlot and her books.  I started reading them after I began knitting, but they introduced me to knitting culture and helped me realize just how cathartic the art can be.  It helped me get deeper into a passion that has brought so much to my life.  And it’s just a fun book.

And so there you go, ten books that have changed my outlook on life.