5 Books that Changed My Life

When I think about some of the most memorable books I’ve read, I can always remember exactly what season of life I was in when I first read them, and what they meant to me then. From childhood series like the American Girl books and The Babysitter’s Club that activated my imagination, to classics like Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights and Shakespeare’s Midsummer Nights Dream that shaped my love for storytelling, books have a way of becoming more than just stories. They so often become a part of our own narrative, shaping what we believe and what we create, and occasionally even who we become.

Recently, I came across a blog post by The Slow Traveler on 5 books that changed her life, and knew I wanted to write a similar tribute to some of the works that have most inspired me - and what better day than on National Book Lovers Day? Narrowing it down to only 5 books was a nearly impossible task (I think I changed my list a dozen times), but here they are.

The Pearl by John Steinbeck

I read this short novella about a fisherman who finds a valuable pearl in sixth grade, and it left a powerful impression on me. Part of it was Steinbeck’s haunting prose and a story that, while unique, uses the relatable themes of greed and the ambition of humanity. But this was also the first book I ever wrote an epilogue for as part of an English class. I remember enjoying the assignment but not thinking too much of it until my sixth grade teacher read my submission out loud to the class and praised my writing and ability to adapt to Steinbeck’s style. It may seem small, but that was one of the first moments that gave me confidence in my writing and showed me that it was a skill I should continue to develop. So I'll always be thankful to this book for that.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

I saw this movie before I ever attempted to read the series, but I fell in love with both equally. There’s something about the fantasy genre that tugs at my creative side, and I think this is one of the most beautifully executed fantasy stories out there. I’m also a sucker for allegories and symbols, so you can imagine why I love these books so much. Every time I read one or watch any of the movies, I’m reminded about important truths that are woven into the plot. To this day, The Chronicles of Narnia is probably my greatest inspiration as a writer.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Yes, I’m seriously including Twilight on this list. Once upon a time I was an eighth grader who fell in love with this admittedly cheesy vampire romance, and it led me to become part of a fandom that taught me a lot. This series might not have the best writing out there, and yeah, there are some odd things about it that I only picked up on later. But it was the Twilight fandom that introduced me to a creative side of the internet that I might not have otherwise known. I learned how to edit photos and videos because of these books (I even met Taylor Lautner once because of them haha but that’s another story). And while I don’t think I could ever get through reading them again, I’m not ashamed to admit that they did impact my life somehow. It’s silly to hide that just because people love to hate on it.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

I read this novel for the first time in college after only pretending to read it in high school. It only took a couple of chapters the second time around to realize it contained a story that despite its time still felt so relevant and fresh. I can remember getting to the part where she runs away (that’s not too much of a spoiler, is it?) one evening in a coffee shop and trying to act like everything was totally normal because I was in public even though it absolutely was not. The truth is that though this is technically a romance, that’s not why I fell in love with this novel The reason I love this story is because of Jane’s resilience and ability to remain true to herself. It’s probably not a book for everyone’s taste, but I think it’ll always be one of my favorites.

Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist

Bittersweet is one of those books that draws you in with its beautiful and poetic prose and then speaks straight to your soul. I discovered it as I was browsing in a bookstore (one of my favorite ways to discover books in the world). After reading just a few paragraphs of Shauna’s short essays on life, relationships and God, I went straight to the checkout counter and bought it, and I did not regret it. One unexpected thing that came out of reading Bittersweet is that I was inspired to write again. Shauna includes a lot of encouraging words for artists, and seeing her own beautiful prose would always inspire me to write my own thoughts on any subject I could think of. I love her other books too, but this will always be my original favorite.

Because I can’t help but cheat somehow, here are a few (okay, a lot) of honorable mentions, in no particular order:

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

A Little Princess by Frances Burnett

The Edge of the Sword by Rebecca Tingle

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

Love Does by Bob Goff

Enemies of the Heart by Andy Stanley Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis

Wild and Free by Hayley Morgan & Jess Connolly

What books would be on your list?

#books