I've seen this post going around Facebook where someone tags you and you have to write about ten books that have stuck with you over your life. I haven't been tagged in this, probably because most of my friends know that I think most Facebook pass-along activities are annoying, but I LOVE this one. I am such a huge advocate of reading, and I think books have the power to be life changing. Because I lack the ability just to list my top ten books without writing about why I love them, I've decided to turn this into a blog post. I had to go back to my old Shelfari page to decide what my top ten will be, but I think I've got it narrowed down. Here they are, in no particular order:
1. I Am Neurotic (and so are you) by Lianna Kong
One of my friends told me about this book while hanging out and I instantly went home to make a copy. I have always had extremely weird habits. I count my steps. I refuse to take the first two slices of bread in the loaf. I lint roll my bed spread excessively. I chew my food the same amount of times on the left side of my mouth as I do the right. I always thought I was just a nut job. This book gave me a kind of connection with other people. I realized that everyone has their oddities, and they can still be perfectly acceptable and loving humans.
2. Matilda by Roald Dahl
I used to think I was Matilda when I was little. I tried for years of my life to make things move with my mind. Luckily, I never had a psychotic, terrifying teacher I had to battle against, so these telekinetic powers weren't really needed. But seriously, how awesome is Matilda? It shows that reading is important and can help cope with difficult situations. It shows that gaining knowledge is a good thing to aim for. I love Matilda.
3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
How could this not be on my list? My grandpa gave me this book to read when I was eight years old. I read it quickly and gave it back to him, telling him that I didn't think it was that great of a story. He gave it to me again when I was twelve and again when I was seventeen. Each time I read it I liked it more and more, and I learned more from it. It was the first book to which I gave a second chance; usually if I dislike a book, I read it once and not again. But because my grandpa asked me to, I read it multiple times. The whole experience taught me to give everything a second chance, that opinions change and first impressions are not always correct.
4. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet
I'm going to give a warning up front that this book is a little graphic. Don't read it if you're not comfortable with that. HOWEVER. This book is incredible. I've never read a book that makes you feel stronger emotions toward the characters. Ken Follet somehow has the ability to make you empathize with his male protagonist, admire his female protagonist (who, for once, are not involved in a romantic relationship), and loathe his antagonist. I feel greater hatred towards William Hamleigh in Pillars than any other villain, both fictional and in real life. He takes five completely different stories and weaves them all together masterfully. It is incredible.
5. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
In my psychology class in high school we had to do an outside reading report. I read one of the novels my teacher kept on the shelf and fell in love. I tore through his bookshelf; I read more than 30 books that school year. After I finished the novels, I decided to read the DSM. For those who don't know, the DSM has every mental disorder a person can possibly be diagnosed with. It lists symptoms, relevancy, and treatments as well. I found every word fascinating. It was just such a foreign world for me to imagine that people actually dealt with these disorders, and reading it made me want to be a psych major in college.
6. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Another book that advocates reading. I think I loved Inkheart so much because it reinforced how I felt about books. It talks about how the people in a book can come alive and have a huge effect on the reader. It's a young adult read, but it's really fun.
Disclaimer: I have always LOVED books that write about characters who have problems. Psychological fiction is my passion. The next few are books that fall into this category that had a profound effect on me.
7. Madness by Marya Hornbacher
Madness is a memoir written about the author's struggle with bipolar disorder. It is powerful.
8. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
I promise I liked this way before the hype of the movie. This book has three things in it that I absolutely adore: 1) The positive effect a student-teacher relationship can have for both parties. 2) A love of reading. 3) The idea that everyone deals with their pain in different ways, and that we should be considerate of other people.
9. Burned by Ellen Hopkins
I know that Ellen Hopkins is very much a teenage-focused writer, and is very over hyped a lot of the time. Burned taught me not to put up with crap from anyone. I know that sounds very much like the myspace status of a 14 year old, but that's the most succinct way I can put it.
10. Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher
Just read it. It's a young adult novel, a really quick read, and teaches a powerful lesson about kindness.
I'm sorry this was so long. If you made it all the way to the end, I salute you. And I would like to know what some of your favorite books are! I am constantly looking for more to read :)
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