five books
I am a big reader. Big. I saw on the Daily Post the topic of the five books that have influenced you the most. I thought this will be easy but honestly, narrowing it down to five books was tough! But I think I did it.
In no particular order:
1. To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee
This book is probably my all time favorite book. I think it is an important book for every child to read at some point in school growing up. It is written through the eyes of a child living in the deep South when black and whites were still living in segregation. It is a deeply touching novel that has lessons we can all still learn today.
2. Where The Sidewalk Ends, Shel Silverstein
This is a childhood book that is a series of short poems. I loved this book when I was a kid. I would read it over and over and try to memorize the funny poems. This book taught me to love reading and to use my imagination.
3. Izzy-Willy-Nilly, Cynthia Voight
I read this book in middle school and it haunted me for years. So much so that almost 17 years later I still remember it. It is about a high school girl who gets in a car with an upperclassman boy after he’s been drinking. They get into an accident and she loses her leg. It is a heartbreaking story about a little girl finding herself.
4. Bel Canto, Ann Paget
This book is about a group of terrorists who hold high executives and people of high political standing hostage. It explores how the terrorists and hostages cope with living in a house together for several months.Many of the characters form unbreakable bonds of friendship, while some fall in love. It is a really interesting book that captivated me from the very beginning.
5. The Faith Club, Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver and Priscilla Warner
After September 11th, Ranya Idliby, an American Muslim of Palestinian descent, faced constant questions about Islam, God, and death from her children, the only Muslims in their classrooms. Inspired by a story about Muhammad, Ranya reached out to two mothers, one Jewish and one Christian, to try to understand and answer those questions for her children. After just a few meetings, however, it became clear that the women
themselves needed an honest and open environment where they could admit—and discuss—their concerns, stereotypes, and misunderstandings about one another. This book is amazing and will open your eyes to three beautiful religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
What is one book that has influenced you?
What Kelly Said 
I recently read State of Wonder by Ann Patchet and it was phenomenal. It was her first book for me, so I keep meaning to get Bel Canto from the library.
The single most influential book for me is probably A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I find something new and relevant to me each time I read it.
I love Ann Patchet…I will check that one out!
Oh, you KNOW I like this question 🙂 I think one book that was a big influence on me (especially when I was younger) was The Giver. Loved that one– I think I read it in a single day during summer vacation.
I don’t think I would have thought about this had you not had Shel Silverstein on there, but I LOVE ‘The Giving Tree’. I still cry everytime I try to read it to Trent – ha. Also, I HATED ‘Izzy Willy Nilly’. I read it in 5th grade and had to force myself to finish it. I wonder if I was still too young to get it?
I have never heard of the last 3 books you mentioned — but Izzy Willy Nilly sounds interesting to me.
I love To Kill A Mockingbird — and that is my Mom’s favorite book as well.
I love you for mentioning Where the Sidewalk Ends. I have all his poem books and I love them. They were a big part of my childhood. And The Giving Tree. My dad read that to my brother and I almost every night when we were little. I love that book.
I used to memorize the poem “Sick” and say it over and over…haha! I also have A Light In The Attic! Both are so good!
To Kill a Mockingbird and Where the Sidewalk ends were both such huge pieces to my childhood. I remember watching the move of TKAM with my parents and them being just as enthralled with it as I was. And of course my mom and I reading WTSE poems to each other and her singing the “Unicorn” song to me almost nightly.
I will definitely have to check out the others!
To Kill a Mockingbird is still one of my favorites. Although reading for class in high school always seemed like a drag, they seem to choose books that stick with you for the rest of your life because they are still some of my favorites!
In addition to Mockingbird, I couldn’t live without The Great Gatsby!
Would you believe that I have never read The Great Gatsby?! I know! I know!
Ooh, great topic.
I loved reading the Help recently…it was very eye opening.
My mom just read Bel Canto and told me I would love it – I can’t wait to read it!
Lonesome Dove is my favorite book. It moves my soul….I love it so much.
The first one is on my list as well. Life-changer.
Others I loved include: Huck Finn, The Lost Girls and The Book of Awakening.
…oh, can I include Twilight? Totally counts right? 😉
Bel Canto is one of my very favorites too! You NEED to read her newest book, SO amazing!
Love this post!! I love getting book recommendations. A book that really made me think: The Giver. I could re-read that book all the time!
LOVE these choices! Traveling Light by Katrina Kittle, bring tissues but was huge for me.