Last night I finished reading "The Book That Changed My Life" , Edited by Roxanne J. Coady and Joy Johannessen ("71 Remarkable Writers Celebrate the Books that Matter most to them"). As usual with a good book, I was sorry that it ended.
Most of the 71 writers picked books that I love or are dear to me. Just to mention a few: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Catcher in the Rye, The Imitation of Christ, and Jane Eyre. Some writers chose books that I had never read or even heard of until then but now want to read. What I noticed was that all the stories had one thing in common and that was the intensity of emotion between book and the writer's life.
I have been thinking long and hard about what book I could pick that actually changed my life. I think I would have to say many of the books I love have influenced my life (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Imitation of Christ, The Holy Bible) but the one that changed my life has to be The Little Flowers of Saint Francis of Assisi which I read so long ago when the Capuchins were an important part of my life. I would have to re-read the book to see why it impacted me so strongly. All I know that my love for St. Francis is still strong to this day.
I would like to know which book either changed or influenced yours. Please share in the combox.
9 comments:
The Success Principle by Jack Canfield
"Memories, Dreams and Reflections" by Carl Jung, which I read when I was in my early twenties. This is a very thought-provoking book, especially for young adults.
Wow, that sounds like a fantastic book to read.
I am not sure I can come up with just one. Let me think.
US and A., I will have to check those books out. TY.
Mimi, I look forward to your choice.
"The Holy Longing" by Ronald Rolheiser, "Seven Storey Mountain" by Thomas Merton and "The Inner Voice of Love" by Henri Nouwen. Non-spiritual book "Anne of Green Gables" by Lucy Maud Montgomery.
I read the first three during the beginning of my conversion and they set me on fire! And, the name says it all for the last choice! I've always loved and admired that book and the main character-I feel that I have a lot in common with that feisty little girl!
"Out of My Life and Thought" by Albert Schweitzer, "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl, and "Crossing the Threshhold of Hope" by Pope John Paul II~~~an interesting thing that happened this week is that we were having dinner with some family members and my sister mentioned that "Man's Search for Meaning" was one of the most significant books SHE had ever read.There are always new things for sisters to learn about one another.
Excellent choices Anne!
Thank you for sharing that Kay.
Esther,
Here are a just a few of the books that have changed my life:
The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux
Father Elijiah: An Apocalypse by Michael D. O'Brien
Won by Love: Norma McCorvey, Jane Roe of Roe V. Wade, Speaks Out for the Unborn As She Shares Her New Conviction for Life
Modern Saints by Ann Ball
The Bible
True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis
Theotokos: A Catechesis on Mary. Mother of God, John Paul II (Pauline Books and Media) copyright 2000
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
The Diary of Anne Frank
Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin
Excellent choices Jean! I agree with The Good Earth.
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