There are all sorts of challenges pinging around on Facebook. I have a kind of love/hate relationship with these things. The truth is, I'm one of those people who likes a chain letter, a survey, a challenge - even filling out a form. There's something therapeutic about responding to questions you can answer, and being a part of something - and with a "Facebook challenge" there's no other reason that fun and knowing more about people! But the other part of me is the one who doesn't like to just do what everyone else is doing. I admit, I'm that annoying person who does or doesn't do something just to be different and prove a point. Really, what is MORE annoying - a person who does every challenge when everyone else is doing it or a person who doesn't do anything just to prove a point? Hmmmmmmm. At least the first person has fun, right? So I got tagged for this book challenge - you have to list 10 books that "stayed with you long after reading them." Oh gosh. A book challenge? Have we established that I'm obsessed with reading books? And I'm supposed to list 10 ... only ... TEEEENNN?? I thought about boycotting the challenge just because 10 is too hard a number (and then maybe I'd look too cool for school ... probably not). But how could I not at least mull it over in my head. So I started thinking. And thinking. Aaaaaaaand thinking. And making a list on my phone. Whittling away my list to 10. And then I started talking to myself. Take your judgement somewhere else ... it happens, especially when your conversation partner is 4 months old, drools, and smiles at the sound of your voice. So I started discussing with myself, and Emma I suppose, why each book deserved to be on the list. And then this blogpost was born: If I was going to participate in a challenge that only allowed me to list 10 books, then I was going to need some space to explain my choices. (Such a rule-follower ... "allowed" me to list 10 books? Who was going to stop me from naming more? The Facebook Challenge Police? ... and a rebel ... I won't let "them" hold my list down! Oooooooh no, I'm so wild, I'm going to not only write a Facebook post, but a WHOLE blog.)
So without further ado, I present my extension of the Facebook "Name 10 books that stuck with you" Challenge. (And these aren't in a specific order ... that would've taken me an extra year or so of agonizing and talking to myself)
1. Night by Elie Wiesel (see my review in this post): Almost any WWII/Holocaust themed book immediately leaves a mark on my heart because I need so badly to understand an ounce of the craziness that took place during this time period. But this piece, written by a survivor of Dachau, is so haunting and real, there is no escaping this book, even after the last page is turned. It is real, people. REAL LIFE. That leaves a mark.
2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (see my review in this post): Again, with a Holocaust theme, this piece of fiction is the first in a long time that made me take a ride on the full spectrum of human emotions and then threw me off in a daze at the end. A good daze, but a tearful daze. I'm not sure that I've been more attached to characters in any novel (except maybe Harry Potter, but there were 7 long books to get me there).
3. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini: We've been involved in a war with Afghanistan/Iraq since I started college 12 years ago (really? 12? ouch!). I'm not one to get too involved in politics, but I did see the 2nd tower get hit and I do remember that day well, so when I heard people saying really horrible things about the people from these countries, I didn't really protest even if it didn't sit quite right with me. This book humanized Afghanistan and the Afghan people for me. I will never forget realizing as I read that the characters were, according to a lot of people I knew, "the enemy," but I identified with them and wanted good for them. It was the weirdest thing. Of course, there are antagonists as well who I wanted to hurt for their actions. But that's the thing. The country doesn't matter. There are good and bad people everywhere, including here and including there. People are people, and where you are born doesn't change that. (Especially, I might add, since you have no control over that little piece of your life.)
4. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein: This is the first book that I ever read on my own (to my knowledge and memory). I won't ever forget this book, and I won't ever stop loving it. It made me realize my love for reading, for escaping into an adventure without even moving from your seat, and for imagining details that no one else will ever imagine quite the same. The Giving Tree is pretty much solely responsible for the rest of this list.
5. Babywise by Robert Bucknam & Gary Ezzo/Moms on Call by Jennifer Walker & Laura Hunter: If you think this list is for moving fiction or biographical pieces only, think again. This is for books that stuck with us, and let me tell you, when your child is waking up screaming 4 times in the middle of the night, and you find something that makes her sleep again, it sticks with you! I haven't read either of these books all the way through, but we started with Babywise when Emma was about 2-3 weeks, and she started sleeping through the night at 5 weeks. Maybe she's genetically a good sleeper like her daddy, or maybe Babywise worked for her. Either way, I don't bite the hand that feeds me. Then between 10-14 weeks we had a seriously non-sleeping, fussy, angry baby on our hands. So I delved into Moms on Call and their 8-16 weeks schedule saved me from looking like a zombie every single day at work and delivered our happy, sweet-natured, good-sleeping baby back to us! Talk about something sticking with you.
6. Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller: Growing up I had no idea that being a "Christian" and being a "Republican" were supposed to be synonymous, because my parents 1) went to a Christian church and 2) were Democrats. When I got to college, I learned that in the "Christian realm," the word Democrat is sort of like saying "horrible terrible no-good sinner" and that it is often replaced with the word "Liberal" - but also spit out with disgust the same way you would the word "roach" when you were talking about discovering one in your midst. I started to believe that one equaled the other, not to mention that Christians should never, EVER be depressed or lonely or unhappy or admit wrong. I hid my roots and a lot of who I was for a while, afraid of losing some friends, but also afraid of losing a central part of who I was - my faith. Reading Blue Like Jazz helped me to think outside the Christian box I felt like I was being told I was supposed to fit into. It reminded me that Jesus loves everyone, in the midst of their crazy, and outside of politics ... he really wasn't all that into "politics" as in governmental politics. He was into the politics of loving people who didn't deserve it. I fit that category, no matter what other category I fell in to. And that stuck.
7. Against All Grain Cookbook by Danielle Walker: Have I ever talked about how obsessed I am with Danielle Walker? I. Am. Obsessed. Love her, love her food. Thomas and I underwent some food/lifestyle changes a few years ago starting with a 1 month Paleo trial (as a result of a book, of course - The Paleo Solution, Robb Wolf - good information, his tone sort of bugged me, too know-it-all). Thomas and I don't eat 100% Paleo these days, but that journey opened us up to a healthier lifestyle with tons and tons of whole foods and less processed foods, of which grains/grain-based foods make up a large percentage. So I got this cookbook (and DW's signature and a photo), and I love her recipes and the way our bodies feel when we eat from this cookbook!
8. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: There's a reason it won a Pulitzer. I actually never read this book as an assignment like a lot of people do, I got to read this for pleasure at a time when I chose it, and I'm thankful for that because it helped me appreciate it more! This book speaks to treating others equally and not fearing people just because they're not like you. I learn that more and more every day I live, every place I visit and every person I meet!
9. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (see my review in this post): This book stuck with me so much that I was hoping to meet the man behind the book, Louis Zamperini. Sadly he passed away in July, so I'll never get that opportunity, but his story instilled in me a regard for military that I didn't previously possess. His story is amazing, and I'd challenge anyone to read it and not feel moved ... maybe I'll do a Facebook challenge ...
10. Someday by Allison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds: I've never really read this book for myself. Thomas read it to me after his brother's family gave it to us when Emma was born. I cried. Like a baby. I mean real tears people. Don't ever read this book if you 1) have a child, 2) are hormonal and/or emotional, 3) have a heart, 4) are a woman, 5) have a parent. I never knew that my mom loved me so much when I was born and all the simultaneous joy and grieving she took in watching me grow until I had Emma. And this book punches you in the gut with that feeling. Don't read it because it is the stickiest book ever!
I'm so scared right now ... I'm already dreading pressing "Publish" because I'll immediately think of #11, which should've really taken one of the 10 spots and just feel so conflicted that I didn't think of it sooner and include it in my list. Sigh. I need to get over myself and my books. I'd love to hear more of the "whys" behind some of the books I've seen on people's lists!
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