Books That Made Me
- leahrochellep
- Apr 8
- 2 min read
We all have those key books we read growing up that made a lasting impression on us. Through childhood, into our school and teen years, and even as adults. As an avid reader, I have quite a few of these.
Pre-school: The Kiss of the Mermaid by Mercer Mayer.
This was my absolute favorite book in preschool and kindergarten, when I was learning to read. It also probably was a big factor in forming my fascination with mermaids! I loved the dark, mysterious aspects of the story, as well as the idea that one kiss could turn someone into a mermaid.
Elementary school: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.
I first picked up The Fellowship of the Ring in 3rd grade, and my life was changed forever. I was reading the books as the films came out, and it was like nothing I had ever read or seen before. They remain some of my favorite books, and I re-read them every couple of years. There is so much detail that on every re-read, I still learn something new that I didn't remember from the last read!
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer Middle/High school: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.
I'll admit I am a bit embarrassed to admit this, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention the chokehold that the Twilight series had on me through middle school and my early high school years. I even named my dog Jasper! However, as I have aged I've realized how toxic the glorified relationships were in that series and I wish it hadn't made such a strong impression on so many young, impressionable girls. Myself included.
College/Early 20s: The Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb.
I first picked up this series in my early 20s, and it immediately made an impact. I'd never read something with so much depth of character before, or character diversity. Some of the main characters are people of color, disabled people, or gender fluid. And these books first came out in the 90s! I truly do not understand why or how these books aren't as well known as Game of Thrones, or the Stormlight Archives, or any other major fantasy series. They absolutely should be.
What am I reading right now? The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.
I am so gripped by this book. I ran out of my Spotify listening hours about halfway through and the two week break I had to take was agony. I cannot stop listening, dying to know what happens to sisters Vianne and Isabelle, living in Nazi occupied France, and how all the characters survive during the remainder of WWII. Since about a third of the way through the book, I have cried or nearly cried almost every time I listen to the audiobook. It is so heart wrenching, and scary, and just really puts into perspective how difficult life was then, for everyone. I highly recommend this book.
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