Skip to main content

5 Books That Changed My Life

How can a bookworm possibly choose 5 books that changed her life? Answer: She cannot. The evidence is this blogpost, as the person who initially asked me this question received a slightly different list. But I cannot help it! I just love books so much! 

Nevertheless, here is my current list, along with a brief description of why I chose these books.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice is undoubtedly Austen's most famous novel, but I have found that Persuasion is the most beautiful love story she wrote. The story of Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth is one of patience and courage, and it is the story that taught me what love is beyond initial attraction and romance. 

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin

Reading Le Guin is an eyeopening experience, because she uses the genre of science fiction to challenge societal norms and open a discussion on gender in a way only she could. This particular book asks the question, how would society work if the people in it did not have a fixed gender? If they were in fact, without gender except for the purpose of procreation? This book is impressive not only because of its innovative subject matter, but because it was written in 1969! I am not ashamed to declare that Le Guin is one of my heroines. 

Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall

I first heard about this book after watching Mikki Kendall's interview on the Daily Show with Trevor Noah. It was his enthusiasm for the book that made me buy it, but it was her clear, concise writing ability and general wisdom that kept me hooked. Not only was the book informative, but it also brought me to tears several times. You cannot see from the angle of the photo I shared here, but I have about 20 stickies marking my favourite parts of the book. I consider this book essential reading for everyone. 

Dub by Alexis Pauline Gumbs

I have not even finished this book yet, but 20 pages in and I knew her words would stick with me forever. I will write a full review soon!

The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

My first love, the book that introduced me to fantasy fiction and created a passion that has lasted to this day and inspired my Master's research. Tolkien was an amazing person, I will defend that to my dying day, but the conclusion to this trilogy is important to me for many reasons; not only is it a beautiful ending to an amazing journey, but this book also has the most to tell of Eowyn, my favourite heroine ever! I could go on forever about The Lord of the Rings, but I will try to restrain myself for now.

I'm sure that this list will always change slightly, perhaps due to new books that I am exposed to or my mood on that particular day, but this is how I am feeling today! What are five books that changed your life? To share your thoughts, recommendations or review requests, please comment below, email me (theopinionatedbookworm@gmail.com) or follow me on Instagram (@theopinionatedbookworm1).

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The House of the Spirits

A good friend of mine once told me, "if a book has a rating of 4 or more stars on Goodreads, it is probably a safe bet that you will like it." This is why I almost always choose my books by their Goodreads rating, a strategy I am currently rethinking after reading The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. With an average rating of 4.23/5 on Goodreads, I thought I was going to love this book, and for the first four chapters, I did. However, as the story progressed I started to struggle, which has led me to believe that when choosing books I might need to employ tactics that do not solely rely on Goodreads ratings. The Patriarch Isabel Allende's novel takes place in early to mid twentieth century Chile, and tells the story of landowner Esteban Trueba, a man who went from rags to riches using nothing but his mother's honourable last name. Esteban is a classic example of an upperclass patriarch; he believed that by going back to the land of his mother's fami...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Will. The Words. The Way.

I started 2020 by reading The Ten Thousand Doors of January  by Alix E. Harrow, and although this past year has been hard for so many, for me, it was also one of adventure. I was accepted to my dream university, but prohibited from pursuing that particular adventure by events that we are all well aware of. I briefly lost my job, but became closer with my coworkers because of it. And I was hurt deeply by someone I trusted, but eventually moved on. I cannot say that Harrow's magical words from her debut novel were the reason behind all of these adventures, but I must admit that I was inspired by January to become more resilient, so I find it fitting that I start 2021 with Harrow's second novel, The Once and Future Witches.  The Once and Future Witches Juniper, Agnes and Bella are three sisters that were separated, but somehow found each other again in the city of New Salem, a place where women who rally for the right to vote are accused of witching. "But witching is nothing ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Kings and Queens of Old

For as long as I can remember, I have had a deep, nearly obsessive, fascination with the past. The stories I was drawn to were ones of kings and queens, knights and wizards, myths and legends. Regardless of the truth behind these stories, the language and the heroic characters that populated the tales created a romantic attachment that lasts to this day.  Even now, I prefer stories of fantasy and adventure to those of real life, and in admitting this I feel like I have failed in my duty as a bookworm, as I only just finished reading The Lost Queen by Signe Pike, even though it was published in 2018.   The Lost Queen I have to sincerely thank Netgalley and Atria Books for giving me access to this ebook, because it was truly a wonderful adventure. The story begins when Languoreth, daughter of a King who still follows the Old Ways of their ancestors, is a child who just lost her mother and must learn to navigate womanhood in a changing world. As the years pass, Languoreth ex...
Post a Comment
Read more