As you all know, I am a big fan of podcasts (if you haven't seen my blog post about the podcasts I am currently enjoying, please check it out here!). The other day I was listening to a new podcast in my collection where, in each episode, the host asks her guest to talk about the book or books that have impacted their lives. Of course this got me thinking about what my answer would be, about which books have impacted my life - it's actually a pretty difficult question! There are books that I love, books that meant a lot to me at the time of reading them but have since faded in my memory and books that I would recommend to other people. But which books can I say have truly impacted my life?!
I think I have managed to narrow it down to a list of five such books. I picked each of these because they certainly had a huge impact on me, whether it was giving me a new way of thinking, a character who became a best friend, a whole new imaginative world to explore, or that they are books that I constantly find myself thinking and talking about. I hope you enjoy my picks and I would love to know which titles would be on your list of books that have impacted you!
1. Harry Potter ~ J.K. Rowling
OK, I know you are probably thinking, what a cliché! But Harry Potter absolutely belongs in my list! I grew up with Harry, I was the same age as him when I read the books, I waited for my Hogwarts letter to arrive when I was 11 years old, I wanted to be Hermione! These books gave me, and still do give me, such wonderful daydreams, such vivid imaginative games; they totally impacted my life, they gave me magic!
2. Anne of Green Gables ~ L.M. Montgomery
Another story from my childhood, I absolutely adore 'Anne of Green Gables'. Perhaps I identify with her as a red head with a big imagination, or because I am also Canadian! These books are just so full of beauty and they make you feel so happy when you read them! Anne has to be one of my favourite female literary characters ever; she will always have a special place in my heart and, from childhood until now, she has definitely impacted my life.
3. Down and Out in Paris and London ~ George Orwell
This was the first book that I read by George Orwell and I had to include it here because it is one of those books that I find myself mentioning all the time, always telling my friends to read and constantly referencing. It is definitely a powerful piece of writing; Orwell doesn't just describe his poverty in these two cities with words, he actually makes you feel what he went through. I have never been so physically moved by a book before and I know that this story will always stay with me.
4. On The Road ~ Jack Kerouac
It is so difficult, verging on impossible, to choose a favourite book when someone asks you that ghastly question. But, for me, 'On The Road' comes extremely close to the top of the list. Jack Kerouac was such a unique person with an intensely beautiful style of writing; this novel has a rhythm to it and I find it hugely inspiring! Reading it only makes me want to listen to jazz, travel across America and talk to everybody I meet, it makes me want to live the beat generation! Incidentally I reviewed a wonderful biography of Jack Kerouac, written by his friends and ex-lovers, here on my blog - you can read that here!
5. She Came To Stay ~ Simone De Beauvoir
At about 20 years old, I finally discovered Simone De Beauvoir and I totally fell in love! Her story intrigued me instantly; I felt connections to her ideas and characters, all of whom are very much based on her real life and friends. I absolutely devoured all of her books and I only wish there were more! But I specifically chose She Came To Stay because I found it to be such an emotional and personal reflection of her relationship with Satre which is something that really fascinates me. I would say Beauvoir's writing, and her life in general, are very important to me and have greatly impacted my own ideas.
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