eight books that changed things for me

I stole this idea from Maggie at Mighty Girl (a current favorite blog).  I would love to see your lists…so reply via the comment section or your own blog!

Here’s my eight, in the order that I read them:

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

I read this book in 9th grade English.  We all were assigned partners and had to pick a book from a list and read it on our own and present it to the class.  It was the first time I was really responsible for researching and gaining insight from a book on my own. It made me realize that I actually had my own opinions about literature.

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Thanks to a wonderful high school English teacher, I actually understood and LIKED Shakespeare. 

Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott

The first time I ever read a book about faith that felt intelligent, true, and achingly real.  It was hard not to put Bird by Bird on this list too.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

This is one of those books that completely sucks you into the world the author has created.  And you can’t get it out of your head even weeks after you’ve finished it.

The End of The Affair by Graham Greene

One of the most creatively and brilliantly crafted books I’ve ever read.  Plus, I read it in England, which makes it that much better.

Cloudstreet by Tim Winton

Ahhh…where to start?  This is probably the only book I could read over and over and over again and love it more each time (reliving Cloudstreet, if you will).  The language, characters, and themes are beautiful and timeless.

Literary Theory: An Anthology edited by Julie Rivkin & Michael Ryan

History of Literary Theory was one of my top 3 classes in college.  I learned how to think about writing, books, and life in a new way and stretched my brain in ways I never thought possible.

Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

The most uniquely formatted book I’ve ever read.  It made me realize that any life is book-worthy and taught me to notice daily details in a new way.