Books are powerful things
Books give us access to knowledge. They intrigue, captivate, inspire and challenge. They give us a glimpse into someone else’s world.
And in the process, they change us. Scientists tell us that our brains are designed to learn through stories. Studies show that when we read (or listen to) a story, our brains respond as if we were actually experiencing the action. So even a made-up story about made-up people can be a powerful tool for change. (Think Uncle Tom’s Cabin or The Grapes of Wrath)
An author can write something that will touch people they will never meet, sometimes long after they are dead. That is why I write–because of the hope that my words can make a difference in someone else’s life.
But what about the authors who have made a difference in my life?
That question surfaced recently in my corner of facebook. (Or perhaps “my network within facebook” is a more apt phrase? Anyway…) I have pondered Top-Ten book lists before, but I’ve never really thought beyond Books-I-Loved to consider Books-that-truly-affected-how-I-think. So, I thought I would tackle it here, where I have room to do it justice.
I have broken the list in two, half dealing with books that impacted me as a child and half that have impacted me in recent times. (The second half will appear in my next post.) Of course this list only scratches the surface of the thoughts, beliefs and ideas I have discovered through books, that have made me who I am today. And if you asked me again in six months I might come up with a slightly different list. Anyway, here goes …
The List, Part One: Books from My Childhood
A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle — This is the book that introduced me to the world (innumerable worlds, really) of science fiction. Which means I wasn’t drawn to it because it was science fiction, but because it was a powerful story. Among other things, it exposed me to the concept of a dystopian society and the idea that my notion of “normal” might not be valid somewhere else. On top of that, the novel went beyond the typical children’s book to deal with weighty issues like life and death, the power of hate, and what is “truth.” Then there was Meg, a child with no extraordinary abilities, who overcomes the powerful IT through simple love. Today’s youth may find it a bit dated, but the underlying story is timeless.
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare — Another Newbery winner. This book sparked my life-long love of historical fiction, long before I knew that’s what I was reading. When I first read this book, in about fourth grade, I was so taken by it that I immediately started over and read it again. But why? Obviously, something resonated in way no book had before. I connected deeply with the main character, although Daniel and I had very little in common. And that may be why it struck such a chord–through Daniel I tasted what life was like for someone who allowed hatred to hold him captive. Better yet, I experienced the release that came when he chose to let go of his hatred. On top of that, I was smelling, tasting and seeing first century Palestine, the setting of the gospels, in a way that went way beyond the Bible accounts. That is the power of historical fiction, and I have loved it ever since.
Dawn Wind by Rosemary Sutcliff — This book was one of those serendipitous gifts I received during my childhood, one that I treasured long after the latest fad toys had been relegated to the trash. This historical novel is set in Saxon England. The main character, Owain, survives a battle against the Saxons where everyone he knows is killed, then he voluntarily becomes a thrall (ie slave) in order to save the life of a friend. Instead of acting bitter, or wallowing in self pity, Owain chooses to faithfully serve, and grow to love, these Saxons who have taken over his homeland. Even as a child I was struck by the nobility of his character. In an age where people blame their lousy attitudes and bad life-choices on childhood trauma, this story of courage, loyalty and sacrifice in the face of tragedy is a breath of fresh air.
The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien — After my father read me The Hobbit, I wanted more, so naturally I decided to tackle LOTR. It was, I believe, my first foray into adult literature. And what a foray! What can I say about this epic story? What other fantasy novel has an entire world history( three age’s worth) behind it to give the story world such depth? It has an unlikely hero, (aided by a motley collection of unlikely allies) who overcomes the baddest, scariest most powerful villain I had ever come across. It is full of moments where characters choose to do what is right, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. It is full of deep truths, memorable characters and fantastic scenery. Middle Earth was a world that seduced me, enchanted me and kept me enthralled from start to finish. Other epics came after, but for me, this was the original, and in my mind it will always be the best.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas — I first read this book sometime during high school, and have read it several times since. It has become my favorite “classic”. This may seem odd, since vengeance is not a topic I would choose for my favorite book. I think it was the convoluted, clever meticulously planned way Edmond takes his revenge that captivated me. And the fact that Edmond was transformed from a gullible and helpless prisoner to an educated, clever and skillful gentleman. (It wasn’t the treasure that accomplished this, it was those years of tutelage under Abbe Faria.) Then too, this was a classic I chose to read, so it was unsullied by English Class and required papers about motifs or symbolism. I was simply drawn along by Dumas as he deftly enticed me to root for Edmond’s success against his selfish, dishonest and callous enemies. Then, when it was over, I contemplated the dangers of “playing God” and wondered whether revenge, no matter how justified, was a wise idea.
What about you? What childhood favorites made the biggest impact on your life?
For the rest, go to: The List, Part Two: Books from College and Beyond
Jim says
No Shakespeare on the list surprised me!
admin says
I didn’t read Shakespeare as a child, but I did enjoy watching it. I would say Shakespeare’s biggest impact came when I attempted to direct his plays. You have to really immerse yourself in a script before you can begin to understand how to direct your actors.
Carol K says
I had to read “The Bronze Bow” in 7th grade. I remember liking it but can’t remember a thing about it. The same was true of “Island of the Blue Dolphins” (the remembering part, not the English class part). I re-read “Island” when I was working in the library at Emma’s school. I couldn’t tell you what was going to happen, but as the story unfolded I just sort of knew that was the way it was supposed to go. The book I read and re-read as a child was “101 Dalmatians” — the original novel version. I would start back on page 1 immediately after finishing it. “Beowolf,” 7th grade English as well, had a huge impact on me. It gave me a love of epic poetry (Song of Roland, El Cid) and a fascination with Anglo-Saxon England. I might just have to track down “Dawn Wind.”
Lisa says
I highly recommend Dawn Wind, and several other Rosemary Sutcliff novels. (The Lantern Bearers, The Silver Branch, Outcast and The Eagle of the Ninth, to name a few. This last one was the basis for the recent movie The Eagle.) I enjoyed the original 101 Dalmatians too. If you like Beowulf, you should read Parke Godwin’s version. (I forget the title) Aren’t books wonderful things? And I think you very aptly described how it is to read a book you read years ago–you can’t remember the details, yet it all seems so familiar. Happy reading!