I am a book addict.
I read four (during hockey season) to six (in the off season) books a week and I am known for going to great lengths to find, track down and collect reads that are off beat and those that have come under the radar of mainstream.
As I am sure most supporters and readers of this blog believe, words are powerful. Books are powerful and a single book can greatly influence or even change someone's life.
The first time I read, The Diary of Anne Frank, I was ten. My experience with that book opened my eyes to how wrongly people are capable of treating other people and added to my growing belief that we should all just learn to play fair.
Since then, I have come across some pretty amazing books. Not only are the books great reads but the story and the author behind the book is pretty incredible.
Such as 2 Girls by Perihan Magden.
How can you not make note of an author who chooses to stand-up and speak out?
Time and time again, I come across powerful reads. Like "Color Me Jazzmyne" by Marian L. Thomas. In my opinion it is a book that could change and greatly influence someone's life.
What book have you read that has influenced you?
What book has had an amazing impact in your life?
What book has had an amazing impact in your life?
Come out to the Book Blitz for Color Me Jazzmyne and show your support for this powerful book and Author Marian L. Thomas.
Buy Color Me Jazzmyne here.
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I am heavily influenced by Janet Evanovcich, Charlotte Hughes and Sue grafton in the way i write. The use of humor and easy use of 1st person point of view. So the Plum series by JE and and What looks like crazy by CH and the Kinsey Milhone series by Sue Grafton. I also love the way Leslie Langtry writes for the Bombay assassins series.
ReplyDeleteNot just books but writers that have influenced me particularly when they use literature to bring home a strong point. I guess one of the best has to be the American classic 'The Grapes of Wrath' written by steinbeck which such strong conviction.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved to read. A great escapism when you are a kid and there was lots of sadness. As I got older and became more aware (high school opened my eyes to authors). I fell in love with DH Lawrence, even though his stuff was difficult to read. The fact his writing was shaking people with taboo topics, like, oh, I don't know, sex and infidelity. I've also read lots of his short stories. I've also fallen in love with contemporary author, Emily Giffin (may have spelled her name wrong, sorry). She is young and a new author and I love her stories. But, when I write, I can't read other's books. I tend to want to steal ideas.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was thriteen 'Of Mice and Men' came into my life. I had always been a voracious reader having been able to read before entering kindergarten. Up unitl Steinbeck, books were nothing but escapisim. Each one, an adventure, in search of treasure and glory. Then this thin little book, how it came to me I don't remember, turned my life upside down. It was the first time I read an author who didn't feel a need to dress people well, but insisted on showing them with an amazing array of flaws. It was the first book that ever emotionally touched me and I could ever recall crying over the outcome of fictional characters. The work deeply affected my literary preferences and to this day is the gold standard by which I hold all writers, including myself.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger I read anything and everything...I connected with--anything by John Steinbeck, a book called Death Be Not Proud, and another one called Black Like Me...I like to read about real things, even in unreal scenerios.
ReplyDeleteSome of the books of influence in my life and writing have been Damon Knight's The Man in the Tree, Robert A. Heinlein's The Door into Summer and Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead. Authors like John D. MacDonald, Robert Frost and Stephen King have moved me to read their entire works. This said, I consume just about any book that comes within my grasp; they all teach.
ReplyDeleteI started as a child with the Nancy Drew and Twilight Zone series in the 70's. By college I was most impressed by authors like Jane Austin and Annie Dillard. Once I had kids I moved on to romantic paranormal stories like Nora Roberts Three Sisters Island trilogy, Teresa Medeiros After Midnight series and Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series. I would love to write a paranormal romance with a Jane Austen feel, but I am not sure anyone but me would want to read it! LOL!
ReplyDeleteI think everything we read stays with us in some way and often becomes a part of what we do or stop doing and how we look at the world. The book that did this for me was Hannah Hurnard's Hinds Feet In High Places. It is an inspirational/Christian fiction book that I found to be just wonderful. Hannah's development of her characters and the way she brought the story to life inspired me to write stories that are impactful - no matter the genre. Hinds Feet In High Places made me want to give more to my readers and helped me to realize what the true passion for my writing is. If the purpose was to inspire, I would say Ms. Hurnard did her job.
ReplyDeleteI have been influenced by many writers, but there are a few who stick out. Donald Goines, Sidney Sheldon, Iris Johansen and Elizabeth Gage have all become a part of my literary DNA. The grittiness of Goines made my eyes open wider, the sensitivity of Sidney soothed me and Gage and Johansen awakened my passion for traveling down dark corridors.
ReplyDeleteInfluence is a word that only seems to have meaning when we allow it to take affect, dig deep within us and create an outcome of something different. The book Drowning Ruth comes to me when I ponder the thought above.
ReplyDeleteI've been hugely influenced by several books, but as a writer I think 3 stand out:
ReplyDeleteStephen King and The Shining made me a READER at age 12.
Ayn Rand and The Fountainhead made me a THINKER at 17.
And JK ROWLING and the Harry Potter series taught me to be a PLANNER (because I read them so often I learned to spot how well she'd done it) making me able to finally finish long works in my late 30s. (prior to that i'd been under the illusion a book was written on 100% inspiration, which couldn't be controlled)
I think what we are influenced changes as we live life.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in my youth, I loved anything and everything by Amy Lowell .
The last book that I really felt influenced by in terms of how I saw the world was The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani.
Being a teacher at an all girls school, I now look for books that are written by a strong female voice.
The book, Confessions of a Political Hitman, by Stephen Mark was a major influence in kicking off my writing career, if you want to call it that. His story led me down a road that took me through my third book, which is now officially my debut novel, Killing the Giants: The Road to Nihilism. Thank you Stephen for telling the truth about the deep rooted power in our system that is unseen!
ReplyDeleteHaving been a big reader from an early age, many books have stirred me, from horrors, to thrillers, to truth. But the biggest influence was We Need to Talk About Kevin. I cannot deny that the prose was too flowery for my liking, but the story was an incredible and shocking insight to the modern world. Lionel Shriver, you have my vote, and Serpents Tail for being brave enough to publish such a shocking story.
ReplyDeleteStephen King "On Writing" tells it like it is, at least for me, and gets into the business part of being a writer and how to edit yourself, and discipline yourself. A must read.
ReplyDeleteChaucer: The Canterbury Tales, the basis for so many stories to come, how to tell tales for the masses, that seem to transcend.
Beowulf: Similar to above, we would not have "The Lord of the Rings" but for the inspiration of this book. A classic tale of heros and villans which continues to be used as reference and archetype to this day.
The book that has influenced me the most is The Holy Bible.
ReplyDeleteIn a more secular vein, The Shack by Wm. Paul Young had a tremendous impact on my life. Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington is an excellent book. To improve general knowledge (especially in Ohio history), any of Alan Eckart's books. To sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride: any of Louis L'Amour's books. Clive Cussler is another author who leaves me spellbound, even when he uses a lot of technical dialogue. I quite enjoy Jean Fritz's wonderful historical biographies written for young children (grades 3-9 depending on reading abilities). She includes many little known facts about each person. I'm currently reading The Great Little Madison by Ms. Fritz.
I have an eclectic taste in books, and usually whatever book I am reading at the moment is the book that is currently influencing me the most.
It's funny, but I only read from a particular genre when I'm seeking guidance for my own writing. At the moment it's Janet Evanovich and Clive Cussler, but reading them is more about learning new techniques and styles. In my personal life, Stephen King rocks my world. His incredible characterisations are breathtaking. Anne Rice is another whose incredible descriptive work I find terribly inspirational. As a young person, books were the thing I devoured as a means of escape. These days I have to be a little choosy. In recent years I have been incredibly blessed to have come across the "Time Travellers Wife" by Audrey Niffeneger and "The Road" by Cormac Macarthy. Both of these books changed my life on a personal level. I love a book that can change my mind, and both these left an imprint on my psyche, that has changed the way I look at the world.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading since I can remember, and would be hard pressed to single out one book. I recall being moved by Flowers for Algernon and intrigued by The Adventure of the Speckled Band. I loved Asimov's stories, especially the robot series, and two other popular and significant books were Stranger in a Strange Land, and The Fountainhead.
ReplyDeleteToday, I'm into much more 'commercial' fare -- mystery and romance, probably because that's what I write.
Interesting, I am in the process of writing another book in regards to the horrors of the Holocaust, so yes Anne Frank would be an affecting book. The book that had inspired me the most was Robert Schwartz' Your Soul's Plan. In fact his book, about prebirth planning and reincarnation had inspired me to write my book which is coming out in October- http://www.myfiveautobiographies.com
ReplyDeleteBest,
Miriam
With a mother who was a librarian, I was influenced by every book I picked up. Not Without My Daughter was a huge one for me. I was young, maybe eleven when I read that book and was shocked to find that women in other countries did not have the rights we do here in the States.
ReplyDeleteCatcher in the Rye was the first book I read with swearing, and I thought I hit the proverbial jackpot. Little did I know then, I was reading pure genius.
Little Women was always a huge book for me, because I felt caught between the girls. I felt I had a piece of all of them within me. I wasn't sure I had the strength to be who/what I wanted to be without giving up one side completely. So I refused to choose.
The book that most changed my life is The Four Agreements by Don Miquel Ruiz. It taught me how to deal with things that are beyond my control: like my hubby. *grin*
ReplyDeleteAs a child there was a Golden Book entitled Debby and Her Nap. I wish I could find it today.
My own book has changed my life. It has opened many doors for me. Each time I read from it at a book signing or presentation I learn something from it. It is as if I hadn't written it at all. It has helped me so.
As a young boy growing up in a small village in Turkey I was fascinated by the Mike Hammer series (translated into Turkish) which gave me a glimpse of life beyond my small world. Next, I devoured all of Yashar Kemal's novels, among them Memet, My Hawk and his island series. As a high school student in London, I started on the classics, my favorites being Dumas, Tolstoy, Destoevsky and Dickens. As I matured, my love of reading gave way to my own writing pursuits, and the publication of my first novel, Voice of Conscience, first published in 2007 and a second edtion to be re-pulsihed this September.
ReplyDeleteBehcet Kaya
www.behcetkaya.com
What influenced me? Sir Arthur Con Doyle and his Sherlock Holmes series. At a young age I found this wonderful classic series. Even today, when I get stuck in a project and can not proceed, I grab a book and read until the answer comes to me. Thanks for asking.
ReplyDeleteNora Roberts writing as JD Robb in her "In Death" Series has been a big influence on me. She soooo inspired me to write on my own. I just love her and all of her work is phenomenal! :))))
ReplyDeletehttp://bkwalkerbooks.weebly.com
I have been a huge fan of Tom Sharpe's novels for over twenty years. I own every book he has written and have read them all at least three to five times.
ReplyDeleteA week ago I completed the manuscript of my newest work of fiction "A Week in the Miserable Life of Lloyd Canard" and as a reward to myself I decided to take a brief break from writing and re-read one of Sharpe's books "Vintage Stuff".
It was as hilarious as I remembered, but what really caught my eye was how similar my own writing is to Sharpe's style. I guess it's true that I always hoped to emulate his work, but I was surprised how well I'd done without even realizing it.
Cheers to all and enjoy,
Adam Kirk Pruden
http://www.UniToad.com
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold is an amazing book. If you haven't read it, be sure to soon. The movie is coming out in the near future.
ReplyDeleteDeidre
deidre_durance at hotmail dot com
In a few words, you've hit the nail on the head - books are truly magical! The stories we read, whether they be novel or 'real', have amazing power to influence so many aspects of life...
ReplyDeleteThat being said, it's a tough question to answer (I'm in the category with you about reading 4+ books a week! :)
Among my favorite and most influential are Madeleine L'Engle, Steinbeck, Barbara Kingsolver, David Sedaris, Rebecca Wells, Chuck Klosterman, Francine Rivers, Marian Keyes...the list could go on but I'll keep it short. :)
I also still love 'children's' books - the Anne series, Little Women, L'Engle again - and of course, Harry Potter!
We learn wisdom from stories - both our own and others' - and there's nothing better than curling up with a good one!