Books That Have Changed Me
07:00
We all know books have the power to change us, but it's definitely true that some books affect us more than others. I know many books have influenced me, but here are a few that I think have changed me the most:
How to Build a Girl
Although this book wasn’t heartbreakingly beautiful like some of the other books mentioned, I think it has changed me. Before this, I had never (and still haven’t) read a book that’s so outrageously and unapologetically feminist. It gets a little graphic in places, but that’s one of the reasons why I love it so much - it taught me things that no other book has yet been brave enough to explore. It’s changed my feminism, and I think it has changed me as a person too, even if not much!
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
I first read this book in one sitting back in 2014, and I really enjoyed it, but it didn’t really move me. I revisited it over the new year (I knew there was something completely special about it, that I would benefit much more from now), and it instantly became one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read.
The thing that struck me the most about this book was the protagonist, Charlie. There was something about him that I know is in myself, and in some ways it hit too close to home for me. The story is told entirely through Charlie’s POV, but because there were elements of Charlie that were me, I utterly lived in the story too.
It was so heartbreaking, and only the second book ever to make my cry. I was thinking about it for so long after (I’ve come up with so many analyses and interpretations of the ending!), and I think the poignant messages are with me now. This book has taught me things that I will take away forever.
Divergent
The thing that struck me the most about this book was the protagonist, Charlie. There was something about him that I know is in myself, and in some ways it hit too close to home for me. The story is told entirely through Charlie’s POV, but because there were elements of Charlie that were me, I utterly lived in the story too.
It was so heartbreaking, and only the second book ever to make my cry. I was thinking about it for so long after (I’ve come up with so many analyses and interpretations of the ending!), and I think the poignant messages are with me now. This book has taught me things that I will take away forever.
Divergent
I’ve loved reading ever since I learnt to, but the Divergent series were the ones that introduced me to YA. I got hooked on them, and wanted to continue my addiction onto other books. I gradually discovered the YA genre, and look at me now... I’m addicted! Looking back, they’re far from my favourite series, but they’ve definitely changed me. If I didn’t read them, I don’t know if I’d be here! Hopefully, I would have discovered the YA genre and community another way, but who knows...
Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock
If I was to be asked to only pick one book to be my favourite, this would be the one I would choose, without a shadow of a doubt. It’s fair to say that I absolutely adore this book with all of my heart. When I first read it, I found it deeply moving, but it didn’t touch me in the way it did the second time round. The character of Leonard struck a chord with me, so it will always be extremely special.
If I was to be asked to only pick one book to be my favourite, this would be the one I would choose, without a shadow of a doubt. It’s fair to say that I absolutely adore this book with all of my heart. When I first read it, I found it deeply moving, but it didn’t touch me in the way it did the second time round. The character of Leonard struck a chord with me, so it will always be extremely special.
Suicide is an issue that has become very important and poignant to me, so I don’t usually enjoy reading books about depression - recently I have been avoiding them for this reason. But, it is handled so well in here. This has really helped me, and I know will continue to help so many other people. I’m sure this is the book that has changed me the most, because I think I look at the world - and the people around me - differently. It was also the first book ever to make me cry!
What are the books that have changed you? Are there any books that have really impacted on your life?
Hello! I'm D - a dog-loving feminist from the UK. You'll probably find me with my nose in a book or playing my clarinet
28 comments
I'm in the middle of reading Perks right now AND I GET HOW IT CAN CHANGE YOU because omg Charlie is actually one of the best protagonists I've read in a while, and he's just so REAL you know?? I can't say much about the other books (Except for Divergent, but it didn't change me so much :/ )
ReplyDeleteI KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN!! The ending is heart breaking and beautiful (for me, anyway), and affected me even more. It makes the book so powerful! Yeah, I think my opinion on Divergent is pretty unpopular in the book blogging community, but reading the series has affected me! :D
DeleteI so agree with Perks! That book honestly changed me, it gave me such a beautiful feeling and even the movie never fails to move me to tears.
ReplyDeleteI loved (hated!) the way I felt after finishing that book. I've only seen the movie once, so I really want to see it again! ♥
DeleteGreat post! I absolutely adore the Perks of Being a Wallflower! Favourite ever coming of age book I've read. I actually need to reread that sometime soon! I really liked Divergent, as it was very fast paced and exiting but not so much Insurgent. Forgive Me Leonard Peacock sounds like great read - might need to check that out at some point.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there was a particular book that changed me as such. I think I'd have to go for HP!
Thanks for sharing some of the books that changed you ;)
Thuong @ireeadthereforeiam.wordpress.com
Thanks! So do I! It makes an awesome re-read: I think it might have been better the second time around, where I knew exactly what was going to happen. I really liked the whole series! At the time, Insurgent was my favourite in the series, haha. I'd highly recommend FMLP!
DeleteIt is hard to know which books have changed us. I think all the books I've read have affected my character in some way. ☺
Thanks, Thuong! :D
Great list! I enjoyed Perks of being a wallflower. The movie was pretty great too.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I really want to re-watch the movie soon :)
DeleteI've only read Perk of Being a Wallflower, and I completely agree about how it completely changed me too! That book really opened my eyes. I'm going to have to check out all the other books you listed!
ReplyDeleteIt's such a beautiful book - the way it's written really does change your view on the world. I hope you do! :D
DeleteI think that Vampire Academy first got me started into the YA genre, and now I love reading YA books!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I tagged you to do the Book Rainbow Challenge. Here's the link to the post on my blog: http://mycrazyreadingobsession.blogspot.sg/2015/12/book-rainbow-tag.html
I loved VA! I read it in the summer, so I hope to re-read soon. Thank you!
DeleteWow, I have not read a single one of these and I PROBABLY SHOULD. Like Wallflower! I'm pretty sure I need to read that one in my life. I did watch the movie of Divergent, but I have a sneaking suspicion it's not worth it. I think A Series of Unfortunate Events completely changed my childhood reading tastes, and then everything by Victoria Schwab changed my YA reading tastes!
ReplyDeleteYOU HAVE TO READ PERKS!! It has loads of diversity in too, so I think you'd love it! Lots of people have said it isn't worth it, but I think it is! I absolutely adored the series when I read it, but because it's so popular, I think it would be hard to stay spoiler free. All of V's books are amazing!
DeleteDenise | The Bibliolater
The Divergent series changed me too, made me think of things differently. Although I did not like how it all ended haha... I understand why the author did it, but man, it should have been Caleb lol xD The books that really got me into reading was The Mortal Instruments. They were my first YA books I'd read as an adult, so after that I started only reading YA, and here I am! :D
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! I was super disappointed with the way it ended, but I think it was the right way! I loved TMI! It was one of my first YA series too, and I adored them. I'm glad they got you into reading YA :D
DeleteDivergent was one that introduced me to dystopians. I read it just after The Hunger Games, and there began my obsession. It is so strange and powerful and beautiful that books have the ability to change us, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI know! There's been quite a lot of negativity surrounding Divergent, but I still really like it! :D
DeleteLove this post! I haven't read How To Be A Girl but it sounds amazing! For me, biggest life changing books are The Secret History by Donna Tartt and The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher
ReplyDeleteThank you! It really is - I'd highly recommend it! I haven't heard of those two before, but I'll have to check them out now :)
DeleteThe only one listed here that I've read is Divergent. I watched Perks of Being a Wallflower but didn't read it. I do know what you mean about how you can read a book once and not really connect with it but at a later time it's perfection. I'll have to check more of these out.
ReplyDeleteThe book is so much better than the film, so I'd highly recommend it! Yeah, that happens with lots of books for me ☺
DeleteThanks for sharing! I love hearing about how books have changed others! The Nancy Drew books were the biggest ones that changed me—they got me into reading and to do better in school—and Ally Carter's books got me into reading YA!
ReplyDeleteSo do I! I haven't read the Nancy Drew books yet (I don't really plan to, as I don't think they'll be for me), but it's great that they got you into reading! :D
DeleteI have only read Divergent from this list but a lot of them are on my TBR. I think that Twilight was your Divergent for me. I DO love Divergent, but it was Twilight that got me into YA <3 And there are some books which have certainly changed me and stayed with me in more ways than one.
ReplyDeleteI loved Twilight when I read it too, but I think I might have been too young for it to get me into the YA genre. I'm glad it got you into reading! Thanks for stopping by! :D
DeleteOoh I definitely agree about Divergent! It's one of the books that got me into reading YA and it will always be one of my favorites :) The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one I still have to read, but I've heard so many good things about it!
ReplyDelete-Cari @ My Addiction: Books
Yay! It's getting lots of hate recently, but I still love the series. I hope you get to Perks soon, because it's amazing! :D
DeleteThanks for commenting! I read and respond to every comment, so make sure to check back to see my reply. Have a nice day! ☺♥