Mine would have to be Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. I was in the 6th grade. My sister Katie loved these books and I wanted to know what she loved so much. My best friend Jessica and I both decided we would read them. There are 8 books in the series and I finished in 7 days. I read up in a tree, stayed up late reading in the bathroom (I shared a room with Becca and Amy), read on the tire swing, and did basically nothing else that whole week.
My eyes opened to another world. I could live in another place and time. I could be someone different. I could have new experiences. I couldn't get enough of Anne's story. Thank goodness there were plenty of books in the series.
There have been many of those books along the road where I have felt myself come alive while reading. Those stories where I have been deeply affected by the circumstances I was reading about.
I think reading is for everyone. If someone doesn't like reading, I believe they just haven't found "that" book yet that will open their eyes to what reading can really do for you.
What is that life changing book for you?
I'm reading that right now, and LOVING it! The Alvin Maker series by Orson Scott Card started my love of reading. I remember not leaving my room, just reading through the series.
ReplyDeleteWhat an excellent choice.
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Ahhh...Anne. This is indeed a life-changing novel for many of us. The first chapter book I really latched on to and continue to cherish is Matilda by Roald Dahl.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard for me to pick just one life changing book. The Anne series was definitely oen for me. I was reading it the summer we went to Utah (I bought them at BYU), and I was in AGONY waiting to get home because Mom had asked all the kids to ship "unnecessary" things home ahead of us, and the last 3 in the series were part of those!
ReplyDeleteOther books: The Giver, Hans Christian and the Silver Skates, Great Expectations, Pride and Prejudice (first Austen, the start of many classics), Frankenstein, Speak, and many more.
I've never actually read anne of Green Gables - embarassing confession. :$ I've always wanted to though.
ReplyDeleteI don't think any one book changed my life - it was more like a couple, depending on where I was in my life. I think I might write up a post about this too if you don't mind. :)
Go for it Ceri! I can't wait to see what your books are!
ReplyDeleteI picked Anne as one of my childhood books that shaped my identity. Great choice!
ReplyDeleteThis book is gorgeous! It just awesome, I really love the designs and cover of this book. The book is eye catching.
ReplyDeletehave a good day.
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I love Anne of Green Gables - every last one of them in the series. It's funny, but I didn't like them when I was young. I liked the movie, but the books were boring to me. When I read them again as an adult I ate them up. I always loved to read as a kid, but the books that stand out in my mind are The Boxcar Children and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Green Gables books as well, but the book I remember most was Little Women. I wanted to be Jo March, so I started reading as much as I could and writing down silly little stories.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I'm any closer to being Jo-like today, but it's still one of my favorite books.
The first life-changing book I read was Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace and then the subsequent books. I'm still affected by loves I developed reading those books.
ReplyDeleteMine would have been Enid Blyton's "Adventure" series, along with the Famous Five and Secret Seven. And then Pamela Brown's Blue Door Theatre books. I can't remember not being in love with reading. Learned that at my mother's knee -- a very precious gift.
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