Sounds like you need a little sunlight in your soul...
Books that changed you
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Sounds like you need a little sunlight in your soul...
Profound impact on one's life? How about The Lovely Bones? In reading it I discovered even when something so horrible happens in one's life there is always, always hope and beauty. How about East Of Eden? In it I discovered that it is ones own choices in life that make or break a person and a person's soul. Sure, I knew from childhood that one does suffer reprecusions from ones actions, but to have it laid out in black and white was mind-blowing. As for King's works, 'Salem's Lot had a huge impact on me. I knew the people that inhabited the Lot. I lived in that small town when I was a kid with all of the same types of people living there along side me as the ones that were in the book. I was alittle older than Mark Petrie was and was like him in so many ways. King brought it home for me in a way that no other writer had. Dracula was another book that shook me to the core. I read it when I was around 14 and just remember that how it was written really threw me for a loop. I had, up til that point, never read a story told in that way- told from the form of journals, letters, etc. (I forget the term for this) Just blew me away.
You bet! I've got sunshine, as the song has it, on a cloudy day, when it's cold outside, I've got the month of May!
I'm not really sure that a book actually has the power to change a person, especially a work of fiction.
Sure, there are books that have shown me all kinds of things, and made me think in a broader spectrum.
My personal belief is that a thing is either in us, or it isn't....books, along with life experiences, and other stimuli are able to enhance whatever is already there, but I don't think these things really change us.
Sure, there are books that have shown me all kinds of things, and made me think in a broader spectrum.
My personal belief is that a thing is either in us, or it isn't....books, along with life experiences, and other stimuli are able to enhance whatever is already there, but I don't think these things really change us.
a Book that really shocked me was 'In Cold Blood' By Truman Capote. I read it at 14(I don#t recommend teens unti 18/19 to read this. it was graphic and the main culprits were absolutely inhumane. I read it and was shocked at how an ordinary family of 4 could be slaughterd by two psychopaths. there was a film made of it and then a remake, reading the book(at 14) was enough. as far as i can remember nothing was spared in this book.
For me books are like music, they have the power to change moods, i.e have a favourite character, be rooting for the underdog, you can express feelings in a 3 minute song. but a story we will develop along with the story, read what was in the author's mind, have mixed feelings about situations the characters get into. as for Stephen King, he has the power to develop bad/good guys and make you love them. A stephen king book is like a rollacoaster, fast, full of ups and down and leaves you wanting more. I think certain books can change people or their opinions. steve is one of these writers. in the same class as Charles dickens and a very funny Samuel Langonhorn clemens(MArk twain)
I need to think about this for a while; so far, here goes:
Siddhartha by Hermann Hess - Like for both the growth and spirituality aspects.
Man's Search For Meaning - Viktor E. Frankl
Knots - RD Laing
On Writing- Stephen King
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - James Thurber (This was THE short story that acknowledged my 'normalcy' of living in my 'imaginary' (yet safe) world. 'They' could do whatever they wanted, and I would 'slip away', and come back later.
Siddhartha by Hermann Hess - Like for both the growth and spirituality aspects.
Man's Search For Meaning - Viktor E. Frankl
Knots - RD Laing
On Writing- Stephen King
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - James Thurber (This was THE short story that acknowledged my 'normalcy' of living in my 'imaginary' (yet safe) world. 'They' could do whatever they wanted, and I would 'slip away', and come back later.
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Yes, discovering him is a life-changer. Absolutely.
I do have some additional answers to the question though. First, Misery. I was only a teenager but the way the pain is written, coming in waves like the tide, really spoke to me. I had never thought about pain in that way, or in any way that didn't include whatever injury or harm that had caused it. The pain read like a character and for whatever reason that did change my life. It changed the way I viewed pain, and it changed the way I reacted to it. Maybe not for the better, honestly, as it was almost as if pain would wash in and become the company that misery keeps - in my own life. I think I held on for too long many times, half lost in this odd interpretation of what pain is. I really can't explain it to any logical end. Better I just stop now and you know that book is one of my answers. Lol.
Another is Rose Madder. I just happened to read that book at the exact time in my life when I needed it most. And there were some coincidences that made me pay even closer attention to how the book related to my life at the time. Rose is a nickname I have been given on occasion (most likely in reference to 'rambling rose', go figure haha), not often used but enough for it to matter when I also noticed the shared surname: McClendon. Then there is the issue of streets. I lived on Trenton St while reading Rose Madder, and though the book went on to read "Tremont St" later on, it did also read "Trenton" street in the earlier pages. But the biggest likeness was just being in an unfortunate situation that involved a failed love that had turned ugly. Nothing at all to the extent of what Norman was capable of but certainly enough that a book like this was a much needed escape and ultimately a well-appreciated pep talk. All of these things only added to my love of this book. It was exactly what I needed to read and it came to me [a donation] at just the right time. Definitely changed me, helped me, inspired me.
To Kill A Mockingbird taught me that it's best to see things beyond physical appearance. Oh, the book never said that, precisely. But I was wrapped up and outraged in the fate of Tom Robinson, and when I internally explored why it was because of the indignity and unfairness meted out to a human being. That's when I first realized in a very conscious way that if we assess those whom we meet on their individual qualities, period, there is no prejudice.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance opened my mind to giving in to being the best you can be with what you are, to strive in your endeavors to produce the best possible. From a life attitude standpoint, it sorta - sorta - became my bible.
Interestingly enough, both of those are from pretty much one-off authors. Yes, I know Robert Pirsig later wrote Lila, but after browsing through it, I decided to discount it.
In terms of Stephen King, none of his fiction works changed my life, although there are spots and vignettes that stick with me still (thank you, The Mangler). However, if I do get to the level of being a salable author, On Writing will be a large part of the reason why.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance opened my mind to giving in to being the best you can be with what you are, to strive in your endeavors to produce the best possible. From a life attitude standpoint, it sorta - sorta - became my bible.
Interestingly enough, both of those are from pretty much one-off authors. Yes, I know Robert Pirsig later wrote Lila, but after browsing through it, I decided to discount it.
In terms of Stephen King, none of his fiction works changed my life, although there are spots and vignettes that stick with me still (thank you, The Mangler). However, if I do get to the level of being a salable author, On Writing will be a large part of the reason why.
I loved Mockingbird because it was so well-written, capturing and holding my interest, and causing me to appreciate humanity's need to get over and above bias. Motorcycle Maintenance I loved because of it's utter uniqueness, and the author's ability to build up a thread of suspense and action the likes of which I haven't encountered since (I concur per Lila).
CSLewis' The Great Divorce was a true life changer for me. The idea that we humans are held back from happiness and controlled by our preconceived notions, biases, and fears was shown to me irresistibly true. The Catcher in the Rye caused me to think, and I think I read it at the ideal time a male person should.
For me, I think the books that changed me have to be The Dark Tower series, Bag of Bones and Rose Madder.
The Dark Tower saved me from myself, while Bag of Bones and Rose Madder were just incredible and magnificent books.
Spent a summer in my room reading Stephen King. Bag of Bones and Rose Madder were among those books, and it was the best summer of my life.
The Dark Tower saved me from myself, while Bag of Bones and Rose Madder were just incredible and magnificent books.
Spent a summer in my room reading Stephen King. Bag of Bones and Rose Madder were among those books, and it was the best summer of my life.
Don't know that i would say changed. But IT is a given among Kings books, as is Rage because they both, in very different ways, had scenes about kids that were maltreated in school. Thats a thing I can relate to myself. Bullies and their victims is also a topic in The Body thats also an important King-book for me. The real knockout book i have read must be Goldings The Lord of the flies. Fantastic!!!