Jenn (of Jenn's Bookshelves) asks us to...
...write a post about the book you are most thankful for.
What a difficult {and loaded} question. I could say I am most thankful for a childhood favorite {The Velveteen Rabbit
} or the novel that I tore through as a teenager {To Kill a Mockingbird
}. Maybe I could say it was the novel that changed my mind about it all {The Doors of Perception
} or the one that made my choice of venue {an in-patient psychiatric hospital for adolescents} for my career in teaching a forever-choice and not just a passing experience {A Child Called It
}. Perhaps I should say I am most thankful for one of my favorite books {like The Dharma Bums
, Brave New World
, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass
, Breaking Open the Head
,
or 1984
}.
} or the novel that I tore through as a teenager {To Kill a Mockingbird}. Maybe I could say it was the novel that changed my mind about it all {The Doors of Perception} or the one that made my choice of venue {an in-patient psychiatric hospital for adolescents} for my career in teaching a forever-choice and not just a passing experience {A Child Called It}. Perhaps I should say I am most thankful for one of my favorite books {like The Dharma Bums, Brave New World, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, Breaking Open the Head, or 1984}.But I think I will say that I am the very most thankful for my very most favorite and life-changing book ever. It is the book that is always on the tip of my tongue when asked "what is your all-time favorite book?" or "what is a good book to read?" or "what was the most powerful book you ever read?". It is also the book I have read and re-read. Not to mention that I've owned multiple copies of it as well.
Therefore, I give you:
{my current copy}
I read this young, before it was required reading at my high school. Then I read it again for my English class in high school. Again over the summers following, and again in an English Lit course in college. I read it with my summer school class of teenage boys, I've suggested it to our high school students and staff alike.
This book changed me. I can't remember now what it was that made me originally fall in love, but it definitely solidified my love of literature. I think I also loved the drama- the drama in the book and the drama surrounding the book. I've fought for the book in heated debates. Basically, I love it. The raw human experience, both within the book and in the world of literature scrutiny.
write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow
I love Lord Of The Flies. Such a great book. It's definitely one I need to go back and reread!
ReplyDeleteInteresting choice. I liked the novel when I first read it in junior high, but I wouldn't have thought of it today.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing everyone's responses.
Can you believe that we weren't required to read this in high school? I don't recall when I finally got around to reading it. It is quite the memorable book!
ReplyDeleteI read this in school and I absolutely adored it. The Velveteen Rabbit was a favorite from my child hood as well.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. I've never read The Lord of the Flies. I need to remedy that.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely a book that makes you think. And it stays with you!
ReplyDeleteTHE VELVETEEN RABBIT was one of the first books I bought my niece. Still love that story!
Oh wow, I love The Velveteen Rabbit. I've used the book when I did my internship hours for my MFT & MHC degrees.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have to admit, all of your choices are right on target.
I've never read Lord of the Flies even though I know it is a classic. Reading your post just put it on my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteThis challenge is bringing a lot of us back to that first book that had an impact on us, and since I didn't really become a reader until my adulthood, I hang my head in shame when I admit that I have never read Lord of the Flies. It's on the list, though! Every so often, I get on a Classics kick and try to read all those books that I *should* have read!
ReplyDeleteI've never read Lord of the Flies. I do agree that the most meaninful books - my "all-time favorites" - are ones that have changed me in some way.
ReplyDelete