The 9 books that made me who I am
"We accept the love we think we deserve" still hits hard.
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Every reader can remember the first book they read that made them go, wow - books can make me feel like that?
Discovering the power that a great book holds is a true rite of passage, and the best part is, it doesn't only happen once. Chances are that there have been multiple times in your life when you've read a book and had Big Feelings about it, from utter joy to devastating heartbreak, inner peace to a sense of recognition.
As a lifelong reader, I can point to so many books that had a huge impact on me- not just because they made me feel all the things, but also because they gave me a better understanding of what I like, what I want, and who I am.
Below are nine books that helped make me the person I am today, from moving YA classics to ambitious adult novels. Want to share your own? Please do in the comments!
1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Steven Chbosky
If you were an angsty teenager in the early '00s, chances are you read Perks and thought it was the Greatest. Book. Ever. The beloved novel about a lonely freshman struggling with his mental health felt like a lifeline for so many people, including myself. "We accept the love we think we deserve" still hits hard.
2. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
When I was assigned Smith's classic novel in 9th grade English, I was skeptical - it sounded boring, and my mom and grandma both adored it, which seemed like a red flag to my teen self. But I couldn't have been more wrong - I fell head-over-heels with ATGIB and the world of book-loving Francie Nolan, to an extent that when I graduated college years later, I put "the world was hers for the reading" on my grad cap.
3. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
One of the most acclaimed YA books ever written, IMO, Speak showed budding-baby-writer-Rachel that you don't have to tell a story in the "traditional" way for it to be powerful. Anderson uses sparse, diary-like language to reveal trauma-ridden Melinda's thoughts and fears, creating an intimate bond between reader and writer that still holds strong today.
4. Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
Like so many girls over the generations, I grew up with Judy Blume books, but as enjoyable (and educational!) as Margaret and Deenie were, nothing impacted me more than Summer Sisters. As someone who had struggled with imbalanced relationships, I resonated deeply with the novel's focus on an always-changing friendship. I still re-read it nearly every year, and it never loses its power.
5. Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
Prep is, without a doubt, my favorite book of all time. From the envy-inducing descriptions of boarding school life to the painfully relatable flaws of lead Lee Fiora, everything about this novel is utter perfection. And guess what? In honor of Prep turning 20 (!) this January, we'll be reading it for Beyond the Book and speaking to Sittenfeld herself!
6. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
I first read this novel (about the unlikely connection between an old writer and a teenage girl) off of a friend's recommendation; she swore it was one of the most beautiful books she'd ever read. I was barely 20 pages in before agreeing wholeheartedly, and by the end, I was sobbing over Krauss' stunning language and the characters' unlikely bond.
7. Motherhood by Sheila Heti
Although Heti's novel is technically about the narrator's decision of whether or not to have kids, it's really an exploration of all of life's biggest questions. The book made me think differently about my own path and future, providing inspiration and courage to ask myself the harder, but essential, questions.
8. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
As a writer, I'm always trying to learn more and improve my skills, and no book on writing has proved more helpful than Bird by Bird. It's filled to the brim with genius tips and tricks, but you don't have to be a writer yourself to appreciate Lamott's storytelling skills and thoughts on creativity. (Fun fact: I loved it so much I have a Bird by Bird tattoo on the back of my neck!)
9. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Considered one of the greatest memoirs of all time, Magical Thinking is a devastating read that changed the way I think about love, grief, and memory. It's a book I turn to again and again, whenever I need a reminder that love and loss are two sides of the same coin.