topic Re: Books That Made An Impact in Book Club

Books That Made An Impact

Sunnyfield — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 22:50:14 GMT

I thought it would be interesting to share books that made an impact on us...especially as children/young adults. Here are mine:

1) A Tree Grows In Brooklyn - I don't remember how old I was when I read it...probaby about 11-12 and I remember being just stunned by it - the difficult lives of Francie and her family - so different from mine - the scene where a man exposed himself (shock!!) - and cryig my eyes out when her father died (how she adored him!) and then when she got flowers when she graduated! It is probably still my favorite book of all time.

2) A Frank Yerby book - I think it was called The Foxes of Harrow - very sexy for its time! I think I was about 13-14 and found it in our attic amongst my mom's stash! Also Forever Amber!

3) The Stranger Beside Me - the first Ann Rule book I ever read and the one that got me intrigued with true crime books - can't remember how old I was when it came out - probably in my 20's?

Those are the ones that come to mind right now...how about you???

Re: Books That Made An Impact

Another new name Sue — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 23:03:30 GMT

As a child, a book called The Lion's Paw by Robb White. It was out of print quite a while but is in print now I think.

Oh and of course, the Black Stallion!! Walter Farley

As an adult:

Bridge Over San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder.

The last sentence in the book comforted me when I lost my mother.

"There is a land of the living and a land of the dead and the bridge is love, the only survival, the only meaning."

All Quiet on the Western Front by Remarque. WWI novel reminded me of the tragedy of vets returning with PTSD.

As I look at my books, one is about orphans, one is about people who died in a tragedy, and the last is about war. I'm not really a gloomy person. I guess it's the tragedy, the drama. Thanks for asking this, Sunnyfield. I enjoyed thinking about it.

Re: Books That Made An Impact

lolakimono — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 23:26:00 GMT

Re: Books That Made An Impact

lolakimono — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 23:27:04 GMT

Re: Books That Made An Impact

lolakimono — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 23:28:46 GMT

Re: Books That Made An Impact

lolakimono — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 23:29:27 GMT

Re: Books That Made An Impact

lolakimono — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 23:30:56 GMT

Re: Books That Made An Impact

lolakimono — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 23:33:21 GMT

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lolakimono — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 23:34:12 GMT

Re: Books That Made An Impact

nomless — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 23:35:57 GMT

Wind in the Willows.

The Once and Future King.

Gone with the Wind.

Re: Books That Made An Impact

QVCkitty1 — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 23:54:48 GMT

The first book I remember was Grimm Fairy Tales. The stories were memorable and very, very grim. The book that I had contained the German version of Cinderella, called Aschenputtel. For some reason that story sticks with me. Believe me it was not the Disney version !! However it started me on my love of reading .

Re: Books That Made An Impact

brewhaha — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 00:05:31 GMT

The Complete Illustrated Kama Sutra

Re: Books That Made An Impact

hopi — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 00:23:50 GMT

The Giving Tree

The Monster at the End of this Book

Re: Books That Made An Impact

chihuahuamom — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 03:41:17 GMT

Well, of course, the Holy Bible.

After that, the Victoria Holt books (read them as a teenager and young woman), Mary Stewart book (the same). Lately I have enjoyed Patricia Cornwell, before she got too "dark", Lee Child's books, Brad Thor, David Baldacci, Joel Rosenberg and Vince Flynn's books. and the Twilight series (yes, I know but I love this sweet romance).

Re: Books That Made An Impact

BornToShop — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 15:12:26 GMT

To Kill A Mockingbird!

Re: Books That Made An Impact

smoky22 — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 18:33:36 GMT

Thanks @lolakimono for reminding me of a couple good ones.

Charlotte's Web

Watership Down

The Plague Dogs (same author as Watership Down)

A Tale of Two Cities

Picture of Dorian Gray

Wuthering Heights

Of Mice And Men

Fahrenheit 451

Animal Farm

1984

It Can't Happen Here (Sinclair Lewis)

Sherlock Holmes

Re: Books That Made An Impact

Tigriss — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 03:21:40 GMT

The Joy of Sex

It broke down the wall that women could enjoy sex and should. The Victorianistic way that a proper woman didn't enjoy sex, was dashed with this classic!

Re: Books That Made An Impact

lolakimono — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 14:28:02 GMT

Re: Books That Made An Impact

sassenach1 — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 16:56:56 GMT

So many of the ones mentioned here. As a kid, books were my refuge.

A Wrinkle In Time

The Diary of Anne Frank

Flowers for Algernon

Night

As an adult - just a few to highlight:

Atlas Shrugged

The Poisonwood Bible

Many Lives Many Masters

The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon

Re: Books That Made An Impact

cerb — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 17:14:00 GMT

You all have mentioned some very good books. Here are some of mine:

Pookie - Ivy Wallce (children's book)

Nancy Drew - Carolyn Keene (children's series)

Little House on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder (children's series)

The White Mountains - John Christopher (YA trilogy)

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

Montana 1948 - Larry Watson

Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

The Samurai's Garden - Gail Tsukiyana

The Ditchdigger's Daughters - Yvonne S. Thornton

The Hiding Place - Corrie ten Boom

Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt

The Glass Castle - Jennette Walls

Confessions of a Street Addict - James J. Cramer

The Bible