Books That Changed My Life

Believe it or not, books hold an incredible power. They have the ability to change you. No, seriously. Over the years I’ve read stacks of books, but only a small group truly changed my life. And I don’t mean they simply meant a lot to me, I mean that my life would be entirely different had I not read them. I know that sounds melodramatic but it’s true. With that in mind, I decided it would be best to write about them and how my life changed from reading them. Maybe some of them changed your life, too!

Harry Potter – JK Rowling:

This book undoubtedly changed a lot of people’s lives. For me, it transformed an activity (reading) that I honestly detested into something treasured and magical. After reading this, I had to read more. And more! To the point where for a while in middle school, classmates actually called me Hermione. Moreover, it allowed me to believe that writing stories was something I could actually pursue. I no longer kept my ideas locked in my head, but rather began putting them on paper. It also introduced me to a community of fellow Potterheads that would in many ways reshape my life forever.

Prep – Curtis Sittenfeld:

High school was very confusing for me (as for many people) and finding this book was kind of a lifesaver although I didn’t recognize it at the time. Besides being set in my home state, which was very cool, Prep explored the common dramas of high school from someone who considered herself an outsider and helped me not to feel so alone. Beyond that, the main character was also very introspective about questioning her sexuality which woke me up a bit and offered a gentle nudge in the right direction that would in turn send me down a new path.

Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro:

If you haven’t read this book, you absolutely must. Prepare to cry. It’s such a thought provoking and interesting story that made me take a step back from the life I was living and reevaluate. Not in the sense of thinking college had put me on the wrong track, but rather that I needed to commit more to the one I was on. I needed to live more! It helped me appreciate the smaller victories in life, enjoy mundane activities, and find comfort in the fact that everyone is unique and important even if people don’t see that in themselves.

Far From You – Tess Sharpe:

I don’t think I can say enough good things about this book. The only drawback is that it took me 25 years to find a book that had me in it. Prior to reading this, I had never connected as much with a character and the story never meant so much to me as this. Despite our lives being very different, the layers of identity in this book felt like discovering myself on every page. Finally having a book that showcased who I am at my core really helped me embrace myself even further and pushed me out of my comfort zone and into the most authentic and happy stage of my life yet.

I think about how I was never looking for these books, that instead I came across them by accident and they unexpectedly changed my life. People often have this affect as well. Without knowing it, they turn your life inside-out and upside-down. With books, however, the outcome is usually more positive. So I can’t help but wonder what the next story on this list might be and how that book will change me for the better.