Okay, so I was challenged by my dear friend in English 102 to make my 15 books list. 15 books that changed my life or that I still think about and process. If you choose to accept this challenge... don't spend too much time thinking. They should be pretty fresh if they're truly influential.
1) The Phantom Tollbooth - Norton Juster, taught me the beauty and power of language. Encourages imagination... Always avoid the doldrums!
2) The Perks Of Being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky, the truest main character I've ever read, it embraces the difficulties faced when growing up what you consider to be "normal."
3) Water For Elephants - Sara Gruen, No matter your age, you can always live adventurously.
4) The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-time - Mark Haddon, I still count red and yellow cars.
5) An Abundance of Katharines - John Green. Tangible, loveable characters. Characters so excellent, by the time I was done, they felt like my own personal friends.
6) Invisible Monsters - Chuck Palahniuk, May I never give in to my selfish, vain, egotistical desires, and may those who do, read this book.
7) Paper Towns - John Green, He combines metaphor, symbolism, character, timing, and readability into a giant pot of NEVER-WANT-THE-BOOK-TO-END goodness.
8) Skipped Parts - Tim Sandlin, A life changing book about the drastic growing up of a young boy. Refreshingly, naive.
9) The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls, Always a good one when feeling broke and financially mismanaged.
10) Peace Like a River - Leif Enger, Delightfully human. Associated with so much good in my life... Might someone see me the way Reuben sees their stand-in mother.
11) Don't Call Me Ishmael - Michael Gerard Bauer, Human. Insecure. Beautiful.
12) Diary - Chuck Palahniuk, Suffer for your art.
13) Anything by Rohl Dahl.
14) TBA
15) TBA
Please Share yours!
Loves,
Nanette
