5 books that changed me.
Jan. 15th, 2003 01:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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unsworn.
The People and The Anything Box by Zenna Henderson for a different view on the Presence that Directs it all. (Ok, that's 2 books. I cheat.)
Sandman by Neil Gaiman.
Especially his personification of Death. A good friend of mine was dying from breast cancer, and that she would be met by a dark-haired goth with a straighforward attitude helped a lot.
A Wrinkle in Time and the various sequels by Madeleine L'Engle.
To be not classically good looking and to be smart is to be "different". It was nice to have a heroine with whom I identified so much.
Prentice Alvin in the Orson Scott Card "Alvin Maker" series.
I think he writes the inside of people rather well. Peggy in disguise so that Alvin wouldn't feel obliged to fall in love with her was nicely set up, but the slave girl running from the slavers with her child... "They going to find me, I die first. No. I die second." It always makes me cry.
A Return to Loving - from the Course in Miracles by Marianne Williamson.
I usually hate self-help books. But I was lent this one by a man I loved very much, and for some reason it made sense.
Especially the bit about loving someone being wanting the very best for them, even if that best means not being with you.
The fact I got the same message from Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park is beside the point. At least I did get it. And learned to let the man be himself, which meant not being with me.
Oh well - I used him as a benchmark instead, below which I would not stoop. It was worth it.
In other news, I have to remove this bit because my beloved would ratehr not have work stuff as open-read.
Reposted on a friends-only post. (Sorry guys)
unsworn.The People and The Anything Box by Zenna Henderson for a different view on the Presence that Directs it all. (Ok, that's 2 books. I cheat.)
Sandman by Neil Gaiman.
Especially his personification of Death. A good friend of mine was dying from breast cancer, and that she would be met by a dark-haired goth with a straighforward attitude helped a lot.
A Wrinkle in Time and the various sequels by Madeleine L'Engle.
To be not classically good looking and to be smart is to be "different". It was nice to have a heroine with whom I identified so much.
Prentice Alvin in the Orson Scott Card "Alvin Maker" series.
I think he writes the inside of people rather well. Peggy in disguise so that Alvin wouldn't feel obliged to fall in love with her was nicely set up, but the slave girl running from the slavers with her child... "They going to find me, I die first. No. I die second." It always makes me cry.
A Return to Loving - from the Course in Miracles by Marianne Williamson.
I usually hate self-help books. But I was lent this one by a man I loved very much, and for some reason it made sense.
Especially the bit about loving someone being wanting the very best for them, even if that best means not being with you.
The fact I got the same message from Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park is beside the point. At least I did get it. And learned to let the man be himself, which meant not being with me.
Oh well - I used him as a benchmark instead, below which I would not stoop. It was worth it.
In other news, I have to remove this bit because my beloved would ratehr not have work stuff as open-read.
Reposted on a friends-only post. (Sorry guys)
5 Books...
Date: 2003-01-14 11:55 pm (UTC)5 books that changed one... hmm...
OK.
1. The Hobbit: JRR Tolkien - The first time a book inspired total immersion. Hours could & did pass unnoticed when I first read this at about 8 yrs old. They still do... even when I'm not reading anything. Should I worry?? But I digress...
2.To Kill A Mockingbird: Harper Lee - Or Tequila Mockingbird for short. Has anyone invented a cocktail with that name?? Simple language, simple imagery - just great storytelling. Read it the first time in 6 hours, the second time in 8, 'cause I wanted to slow down & enjoy it. The first book I had to read for English classes that I actually liked. The epitome of the joy of reading.
3. The Day Of The Triffids: John Wyndham - Science fiction has never been so believable. Take a small idea, watch it grow out of control. No robots, aliens, superheroes or laser beams. It could happen tomorrow. Maybe it happened yesterday...?
4.The Moving Toyshop: Edmund Crispin - Influential, on me at least, in so many ways. The joy of playing with the language, a refusal to become bogged down in unpleasantness, a love of mystery, touches of absurdity, a little personal abuse & lots of pretension pricking. Sound like anyone you know??
5. The Hitch-Hikers Guide To The Galaxy: Douglas Adams - For many of the same reasons as #4. Only funnier, faster, weirder & a whole lot more neurotic. Shame about book #5 though...
J.