The Books That Have Influenced Me

I think that literature has a way of sinking deep into my bones. I feel words in a very strong and real way. I don't know if it is because of the stories, the way words are strung together, or something else. But I know that when I read words on a page, it impacts my brain more than a spoken word ever could.

With this in mind, let me go through a list of the books that have influenced me the most throughout my life and why (where applicable).

Little Kid (3-7 years old)

• Corduroy

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar

• Where The Wild Things Are

• Guess How Much I Love You

  • This one holds a very special place in my heart. I remember my parents reading it to me so often. I will always wrap it up and bring it with me as a gift to every baby shower I ever go to.

• Goodnight Moon

• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See

  
  

  

Elementary School

• The Chronicles of Narnia

  • These books made me believe in magic. I saw myself in the characters. I didn't understand the allegory in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe to Christ back then. But even when I rewatch the movies at Christmas time each winter, it is still very special.

• The Magic Treehouse

  • I think I read every single one. Again, magic was possible and real to me.

• Madeline

  • Perhaps kind of a silly story, I loved the rhyme scheme and how brave Madeline was.

• Stone Fox

  • I distinctly remember this book -- it was the first one that ever made me cry. I remember feeling silly for being so upset about a story but also realized that stories can truly have an impact on us. I think this was a turning point in reading for me. Maybe there are a few of these "turning points" in my reading journey.

    
    

    

Middle School

• Swindle

  • This one was silly and adventurous. I think I liked how it was about accomplishing something you find important but not getting too wrapped up into it that you forget to have fun.

• The Outsiders

  • I guess I am vulnerable to stories that are really about belonging, loyalty, and being misunderstood while still trying to be good. The story doesn’t say “be good and things will work out.” It says be good anyway. I really like that.

• Holes

  • It insists that kindness survives systems designed to break people. Camp Green Lake exists to dehumanize kids. And yet kindness survives in small acts, shared water, carried weight, and loyalty.

    

High School

• The Great Gatsby

  • Such a beautifully written story shouldn't make me so angry. Daisy and Tom's carelessness for anyone and anything doesn't make me sad. It makes me angry. Gatsby does everything “right” by the world’s standards and still ends up hollow. But the idea of hope persisting is still very special to me.

• I Never Had It Made (Jackie Robinson's Autobiography)

  • I knew the Jack Robinson story, as most of us do, before I read this book. However, his words changed how I see what staying true to yourself really is. What stuck the most is that sometimes the most courageous thing we can do is not "fight" back in the moment, but persist with patience, the refusal to give in, and let our actions be the proof.

• Fahrenheit 451

  • Although fictional, this story feels so real. People choose distraction over depth and comfort over courage. The older I get and the more of the "real world" I understand, the more this book seems to be not too far off from reality.

• To Kill A Mockingbird

  • I'm being so for real right now: I think I will name my child Atticus because of this book. The character models integrity that doesn't bend for approval. The story reminds me that doing what’s right doesn’t guarantee safety, popularity, or success, but it is always worth it in the end.

• Fall of The House of Usher

  • One line in this story will stay with me until the day I die: "besides, I have a sister."

  • As a sister and as someone who has a sister, I know that that is reason enough to do literally anything ever.

    • Leave your hometown? Yes, I have a sister; No, I have a sister.

    • Get married? Yes, I have a sister; No, I have a sister.

    • Travel to new places? Yes, I have a sister; No, I have a sister.

    • Let that person back into your life? Yes, I have a sister; No, I have a sister.

  • Words can't really explain it very well, but if you have a sister, I think you understand.

• The Count of Monte Cristo

  • This one taught me that vengeance can go too far and that while you may have reason to seek it, it may not satisfy you in ways you think it should.

    
    

    

Adult

• 40 Chances

  • I have a whole blog post dedicated to this book. I think that this is the single most influential book I have ever read (after the Bible). It opened my eyes to the entire food system and the entire globe really.

• A Bold Return to Giving a Damn

  • I also have an entire post about how badly I think people should read this book or at least consume some of the ideas and lessons from it. When it comes down to it, the book is about how choosing to care isn't just necessary, it is an extreme act of courage.

• The Walt Longmire Mysteries (The Dark Horse)

  • I love this series because Craig Johnson created a character that is so loyal to both justice and mercy at the same time. The cases unfold slowly, often requiring him to listen more than he speaks, and to respect the past even when it complicates the present. The stories are deeply rooted in land and culture, especially Indigenous perspectives, and they show how ignoring history leads to repeated harm (Sometimes, even if it isn't our fault that previous generations did or didn't do something, it can still be our job to correct it.)

    

All My Love,

Neva