I love reading and I've shared my love of reading quite a few times here on the blog. Today's Blogtember prompt is to write about the five books that have impacted your life the most. It's a question that I needed to think long and hard about before coming up with an answer. I consider myself to be a rule follower, so after narrowing it down to seven I really tried to eliminate two and chose just five...but I couldn't make it happen. So I'm choosing seven books that have impacted my life the most.
Campingly Yours - Thomas C. Alder this was the first book I read that made me realize there were people out there like me who loved summer camp with every fibre of their being. It validated my passion in a way nobody/nothing else had before. It gave me a sense of belonging and a feeling of happiness. In many ways it solidified a life long passion for camp. I read it while I was still a counsellor, which for most people is the end of the line in terms of their love of camp, and this book motivated me to keep dreaming and stay determined that camp would be my career.
The Bible This one is sort of self-explanatory, but only sort of. This particular Bible is the one I received as a 16 year old when I was an LIT. It was my first grown up Bible and it has guided me through a multitude of situations. I'm sure I could do an entire post (including photos) about the scribbles and doodles in the margins and the bookmarks and highlighted verses. I've used this Bible for a full 10 years and I love it dearly although I am ready to 'start a new Bible' so to speak and fill that one with prayer and praise.
Seven - Jen Hatmaker My first real foray into living with minimal 'stuff', it's somewhat ironic that I narrowed this question down to seven books. And if hard pressed these probably would be the seven books I'd choose to keep if I could only have seven! This book really stuck with me, I often think about choosing seven foods to eat or seven articles of clothing. It's a book I will re-read in multiple seasons of life and each time learn something new.
The Fringe Hours - Jessica Turner Game changer. I'm an introvert who is notoriously bad at self care and making time for myself. How's that for a recipe for disaster? This is the most recent read to make the list but I still think it's deserving of a spot. I finished this just as I headed to camp for the summer and made several attempts to incorporate the fringe hours philosophy in my life. With varied levels of success I did find those fifteen minute windows during the day. I snapped sunset photos before counsellor meeting and shut my bedroom door for five minutes while I fixed my hair and applied sunscreen. This is another book I'll be re-reading and learning from again and again.
Stargirl - Jerry Spinelli The first time I read this book I was in elementary school. It was a book and i enjoyed it but it wasn't until the beginning of high school when this book make it's impact. In high school I was very actively involved in drama and along with all of my best drama friends I acted in a stage adaptation of the book. It took on a whole new meaning as we spent a large portion of that year studying the book and learning our lines. It was some of the most fun I've ever had and I always think back fondly on the experience. Plus, it really is a great book. Stargirl and Leo are two of my favourite characters ever and there are so many life lessons hidden within the pages.
These Happy Golden Years (Little House on The Prairie Series) - Laura Ingalls Wilder. This book belonged to my mom when she was a little girl. She found it one day when I was in grade three or four and gave it to me to read. Even though it's one of the last books in the Little House on the Prairie series it's the first one I read and the one that made me fall in love with Laura Ingalls. I was immediately consumed with interest for her and her life. I spent hours researching her and learning everything I could about her and the time period. It inspired me to write my own stories and when I wasn't researching Laura and her family I was creating my own pioneer families. I hope that someday I'll be able to pass along my Little House book collection to my daughter, as well as her grandmother's copy of These Happy Golden Years.
The Princess Bride - William Goldman this book makes me happy, in some ways it probably could have gotten the cut in regards to how influential it's been in my life. I discovered it many years after I'd developed a strong love of reading and writing. I don't have many strong connections to reading this book, other than the fact I've re-read it countless times. It's another book I will pass along to any future children. It's a great movie, but the book is full of so many more details and added happiness. It's sort of my comfort book. I've read it times of crisis and times of peace, it's always there for me when I need a familiar read.
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