Mine would probably be "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach, but Ann Rand's "The Fountainhead" comes in a close second. I'd also like to hear what new concept the book opened you up too.
2006-07-02 14:15:26 · 20 answers · asked by Olwen C 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
That's a loaded question--there's so many books that have affected me somehow. At this particular point in my life, I'd probably have to go with Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. So many ideas in there about the importance of standing up for what you believe in, and believing in things that are real and important.
"We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?"
"Mr. Montag, you are looking at a coward. I saw the way things were going, a long time back. I said nothing. I'm one of the innocents who could have spoken up and out when no one would listen to the "guilty," but I did not speak and thus became guilty myself. And when finally they set the structure to burn the books, using the firemen, I grunted a few times and subsided, for there were no others grunting or yelling with me, by then. Now, it's too late."
Wonderful, wonderful book.
2006-07-02 14:33:22 · answer #1 · answered by starlightfading 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale"--I can't even begin to discuss the influence of this novel to my life...I wrote a 20 page essay and still had more to say. One important thing about this text that struck home with me was that she took the inspiration for the novel from real-life things that were going on in the world and melded it into this world that appeared not so make-believe.
And I know that Elaine Scarry's "The Body in Pain" isn't fiction but I think everyone needs to read it.
Although I love the concept and title of the non-fiction book "The Only Bush I Trust is My Own"
2006-07-02 20:14:47 · answer #2 · answered by captain crash 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"The Jesus Incident" by Frank Herbert
The ideas about how people worShip and how they use religion and belief to exploit or suppress other people when their own origins may be in question. In the case of this book, the 'humans' treat clones like dirt, only to find out in the end (yes, I'll ruin the story for you) that everyone is really a clone. There are sequels and a prequel "Destination:Void"
Favorite quote from the book: "Dig your firm heels firm unto dirt; but where is the dirt going?"
Wicked nasty planet to deal with, extreme people.
2006-07-02 14:41:28 · answer #3 · answered by auntiegrav 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver... It's a story about a fanatical Baptist preacher who takes his wife and 4 daughters to work as missionaries in the Belgian Congo right before the Congo attained independence. The writing is phenomenal, the story is captivating, and it is historically accurate. It completely opened my eyes to the path the Congo has taken since independence and how the Europeans completely messed things up in Africa after they colonized the continent. A must read for EVERYONE, in my opinion.
2006-07-02 14:47:05 · answer #4 · answered by cate_sm 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mine I guess would have to be Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey. I'm not exactly sure why. I guess it was the first book that showed me people who cared for not just themselves or other people, but everything. It showed people having responsibility they didn't want and learning not to just accept it but find joy in the things they can't change. I think I could go on for quite a while like that and still not be entirely sure why.
2006-07-02 14:39:45 · answer #5 · answered by nezzy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini. It gave me a human view of a country that gets much press attention from inhumane acts.
2006-07-02 14:19:19 · answer #6 · answered by mbtafan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
2006-07-02 14:16:47 · answer #7 · answered by iconoclast_ensues 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Outsiders
2006-07-02 14:18:49 · answer #8 · answered by It's me again 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anna Karenina is the novel which has most Affected my world view. And it continues to do so. It demonstrates that human nature is complex and varied but that it does not change or evolve much over the centuries. Good people sometimes do bad things; bad people can do good things; people do things for all the right or wrong reasons, etc. et. al., but one's ability to be happy in life is largely one's own choice.
2006-07-02 14:32:34 · answer #9 · answered by lisita429 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1984 by George Orwell. An insightful look into where we could be heading as a society. It was written early in the 20th century which makes it even more amazing that someone could think of this stuff back then.
2006-07-02 14:24:42 · answer #10 · answered by Shady P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋