books that have been important to me
I've been thinking a lot about how much the books I've read have influenced me as a person. I came up with a list, and they aren't necessarily my favorites, especially as with one exception I read them all for the first time in jr. high or earlier, but they're the ones that really got into my head for one reason or another.
If anyone else wants to do this, I'd be interested to see what sort of list they came up with.
Our Universe
We had this book when I was growing up, and I must have first read it around the time I was learning to read. It, and a book about natural disasters that I unfortunately can't remember anything else about, are responsible for getting me interested in science. Also, it made me more concerned about black holes than I should have been.
Dealing With Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
I totally wanted to be Cimorene. She got to be smart and hang out with dragons without acting like or pretending to be a boy.
Caught in Crystal by Patricia C. Wrede
I first read this book in 5th grade, and what I got out of it had very little to do with the story. No, what stuck with me was a couple of lines where one of the characters is explaining that if someone is to be great at something, labor and desire are just as important as talent.
Linnea in Monet's Garden
I first had this book read to me before I even started school, and I think it's what got me started on the whole art thing. Also, it's why I will be forever and always fond of Monet's art, especially now that I can appreciate what he was trying to do with light and color, instead of just thinking his paintings are pretty.
The Art of Michael Whelan
Without this book I'm not sure it would've occurred to me that illustration could be a career.
The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs
I didn't read this book until I was 19, but it had at least as much impact as any of the rest of the ones in this list. Mostly because it made me realize just how little attention I'd been paying to the world I live in and how it works.
Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones
I could include a lot of her books, but this was the first that I read.
Hunting Party
I think this was the first sci-fi (in the sense that it had space ships and took place in the future. I didn't find out what space opera was until years later) book I ever read. At the time a lot of the appeal was that one of the main characters was named Cecelia (close enough to my name to count), and she really liked horses (this was towards the end of when I was reading everything with a horse in it that I could find). I re-read it, and the other two books in the trilogy, last year and was pleasantly surprised to discover that they held up pretty well.
Ruins of Ambrai by Melanie Rawn
I read this book more than any other when I was 13. One day she will finish the trilogy and I will be happy.
Faeries by Brian Froud and Alan Lee
Brian Froud has the best career ever. He gets to draw whatever he feels like and people pay him and make books of his art. Also, he worked on Labyrinth, which I was exposed to at a very young age, and probably explains a lot about why I draw what I do.
If anyone else wants to do this, I'd be interested to see what sort of list they came up with.
Our Universe
We had this book when I was growing up, and I must have first read it around the time I was learning to read. It, and a book about natural disasters that I unfortunately can't remember anything else about, are responsible for getting me interested in science. Also, it made me more concerned about black holes than I should have been.
Dealing With Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
I totally wanted to be Cimorene. She got to be smart and hang out with dragons without acting like or pretending to be a boy.
Caught in Crystal by Patricia C. Wrede
I first read this book in 5th grade, and what I got out of it had very little to do with the story. No, what stuck with me was a couple of lines where one of the characters is explaining that if someone is to be great at something, labor and desire are just as important as talent.
Linnea in Monet's Garden
I first had this book read to me before I even started school, and I think it's what got me started on the whole art thing. Also, it's why I will be forever and always fond of Monet's art, especially now that I can appreciate what he was trying to do with light and color, instead of just thinking his paintings are pretty.
The Art of Michael Whelan
Without this book I'm not sure it would've occurred to me that illustration could be a career.
The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs
I didn't read this book until I was 19, but it had at least as much impact as any of the rest of the ones in this list. Mostly because it made me realize just how little attention I'd been paying to the world I live in and how it works.
Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones
I could include a lot of her books, but this was the first that I read.
Hunting Party
I think this was the first sci-fi (in the sense that it had space ships and took place in the future. I didn't find out what space opera was until years later) book I ever read. At the time a lot of the appeal was that one of the main characters was named Cecelia (close enough to my name to count), and she really liked horses (this was towards the end of when I was reading everything with a horse in it that I could find). I re-read it, and the other two books in the trilogy, last year and was pleasantly surprised to discover that they held up pretty well.
Ruins of Ambrai by Melanie Rawn
I read this book more than any other when I was 13. One day she will finish the trilogy and I will be happy.
Faeries by Brian Froud and Alan Lee
Brian Froud has the best career ever. He gets to draw whatever he feels like and people pay him and make books of his art. Also, he worked on Labyrinth, which I was exposed to at a very young age, and probably explains a lot about why I draw what I do.