Books That Have Stayed With Me

There's a challenge going around Facebook at the moment, where someone is told to list 10 books that "have stayed with them," or have made an impact on their life. Although I was not challenged, this is something I really want to do. Because that's how much I love reading.

I've decided to post my list here on the blog because, with each book, I want to share a little about it, and WHY it's there. Kind of like a list of recommendations, if you will.

And I'm sure you know by now, if you've been following along, how much I love lists.


1. The Bible As a believer in Christ, this book is very, very important to me. Not only are there amazing truths, but within the pages of this Book are the most interesting stories.

2. Kira-Kira I cry every time I read this book. EVERY. DARN. TIME. Because that's how good this book is. The story of a Japanese girl moving to a new state with her older sister is just too real. Even though I don't have an older sister...

3. Inkheart Along with The Thief Lord and Dragon Rider, these three books really captured my imagination with their rich worlds and awesome characters. I read them over and over when I was younger. The idea that someone could just read something or someone into being just blew my mind.

4. The Knife of Never Letting Go/The Ask and the Answer I won't recommend these to all readers, because, unfortunately, there's some violence and a couple of swears. BUT. There's a lot of other great content in this book. Even though the characters have their flaws, you experience pain, joy, anger, and everything else right along with them.

5. The Picture of Dorian Gray I won't recommend this one to all readers as well, but this book, one I had to read for my college British Literature class, is absolutely amazing. The tale about how a naive young man steps down into darkness and depravity is fascinating, and well crafted.

6. The Giver Another book that I had to read for school, but high school this time. This one is a very short and fast paced read, but it is full to the brim with the importance of feeling and remembering.

7. Tuck Everlasting I actually saw the movie before I read this book, but, even though this is another short read, I love the story very much. Essentially, a family gets more than they bargained for when they drink out of a certain fountain.

8. A Wrinkle in Time I have loved this book ever since I first listened to it on tape when I was a kid. Sometimes I compare my brother and I to Meg and Charles Wallace. I'm the awkward older sister and Kevin's the way-too-smart-for-his-own-good younger brother. Except we don't travel through dimensions though.

9. Unwind Agh. This book. This book brings so many thoughts and opinions. It's a great read that forces us to consider human life and what it's worth.

10. Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes The. Feels. This book messed me up even worse than Kira Kira. However, I would recommend it to everyone. It gives the perspective of a girl who experienced the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.