QOTW: The Books That Have Shaped My Life
June 21, 2009 | Filed under Media, Q.O.T.W.
There have been three books (or book series) I read in my childhood, that over the past decade and a half, have shaped the person I am today.
Matilda
I first read Roald Dahl’s classic when I was very very young – no more than six or seven. While at the time, a lot of the ironic British humour was lost on me, the story of the girl genius who used her natural talents and intellect to take control of her own life really resonated. Her sparkling wit, her obvious intellect, her rationality, her modesty, and above all, her ingenuity in creating “punishments” for her negligent parents, shaped her as the role model I most admired. Unlike other heroines of children’s novels, Matilda was firmly in charge of her own person and was fiercely independent. I still re-read Matilda every couple of months now, and the underlying theme of making the most of what one has and taking control of one’s own destiny still rings loud and true. It acts as a guide to remind myself what I am actually capable of doing.
The Babysitter’s Club
I was a Babysitter’s Club series fiend from age six to the age of thirteen – I owned all the books from #1 to #100, a few of the super special novels, and a few of the child series centered around the character of Karen Brewer. I would have read each book at least five times each, and my obsession was well noted amongst my peers at elementary school. The characteristics of the series that most affected me was the camaraderie and friendship between the main characters (despite any arguments they may have had along the way, they would always be there for each other through thick and thin – the mark of what I define to be a true friendship), and the entrepreneurship shown by the girls. They identified a gap in the market that could be filled (a neighborhood with lots of children and need for babysitters), they created an organisation that could fill that gap, and as a result, created a steady and reliable stream of income for themselves. I like to think that my own personal brand of “thinking outside the box” when it comes to making money through alternative means is influenced by this early example of young entrepreneurs.
Peyton Place
I read Grace Metalious’s Peyton Place when I was about ten years old. At the time, it was one of the most salacious books I’d ever read – while the sex scenes weren’t explicit by any means, the sheer passion between Constance MacKenzie and Tomas Makris in their scenes together was mind-blowing for an impressionable girl of ten. It is and has always been, I would argue, the unacknowledged benchmark of what I expect in an own ideal relationship. Their disregard for social conventions in the face of their passion for each other has influenced me in a very notable way – and regular readers of this blog who are familiar with my sexual/romantic history know full well what I’m referring to!
Question of the Week: What books have shaped you as a person?
17 Responses to QOTW: The Books That Have Shaped My Life
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Matilda is an excellent book — then again any books by Roald Dahl is fantastic. As you, I read the BSC books as well as the Sweet Valley stuff.
. . . As the book that shaped me as a person? That’s a good question. I never really considered that. I can tell you what books have influenced on the way I think of the world, but books that shaped me as a person? Hm. Must think on it!
Tara on June 21, 2009 #
Ohhhh the BSC. I wonder if I still have a few of the books.
Still, for me I find that I used things like the friendship in the BSC as a ‘standard’ to compare to, and that didn’t work well at all. I never really had good friends. One good friend, yes, but a lot? Still working on that. Getting to know people is really a lifelong thing.
I have no clue which books shaped me as a person. I have a lot of reading and thinking to do this summer. I can’t wait to read books in English again!
Stephanie on June 21, 2009 #
Aww, this is an awesome post. Childhood books are amazing and so full of adventure. I might have to do a list like this at some point. I can think of some right now. :)
Caity on June 21, 2009 #
I loved The Babysitter’s Club too, favourite was Mallory And The Trouble With Twins, my most read book ever I think.
The only book I can think of as life shaping is the non-fiction book on British royals I was given when about 7 years old. It made me interested in history and now I’m obsessed with the stuff.
Charlie on June 21, 2009 #
I know I’m a little young compared to most BSC fans (I think most of them were published when I was about 2), but they always had them in my school library, and I read a lot of them – like, probably 100. My favourite babysitters were always Claudia, Stacey, and Mallory.
I also remember loving Matilda (and I enjoyed the movie when I was about 7), but I’ve never read Peyton Place. I don’t even think I’ve heard of it until now. o_o
That is a pretty hard question, actually. I read SO many books as a kid! I might have to go with the His Dark Materials trilogy – I read it when I was about 8 or 9 (pretty young, I know), and I still reread it pretty regularly.
Clem on June 22, 2009 #
I LOVED BSC! My favorite girls were Stacey and Dawn. I also read the spin-off series about Dawn and her friends back in California – The California Diaries, I think they were called? I actually liked those better than BSC.
I love all of Roald Dahl’s books. He’s one of my top favorite authors. As for what book influenced me the most as a kid… The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares. I was in my teens when those were released so I dunno if that’s a “kid” in the traditional sense, but they definitely impacted on me a lot. I think the Dear America and Royal Diaries series also influenced me – the former with my love for American history, and the latter with my love for, well, world history.
Manda on June 22, 2009 #
I don’t think I can mention any books that have shaped me but I have read 2 out of the 3 books (or series) mentioned by you.
Actually when I was younger I read a lot of books about girls that had horses and went on all kind of adventures with the horses (a series by Yvonne Bril called Bianca and friends) I guess having owned a horse from a very very young age I kind of looked up to them but it never really shaped me to who I am today.
Chans on June 22, 2009 #
Lord of the Rings. I first read it when I was seven, but I had to read it again a few times before I completely understood it all.
I used to sit in the library every lunchtime honing my asocial skills, just reading Lord of the Rings.
It got worse when the movies came out. Haha.
Darnielle on June 22, 2009 #
OMG BSC! I liked the BSC little sister books too. Goosebumps is the book series that really shaped my life though as a kid. I was obsessed haha. I still have the books too.
Britney on June 22, 2009 #
Wow, this post brought back so many old memories. I LOVE Matilda as well as the BSC series. I looked up to the characters in those books.
As for an answer to your question, probably Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It’s probably the cheesiest book ever, but it had some solid good morals and interesting (although a bit cliché) characters. I’m also kind of obsessed with the time period in which it was set. :P
Regina on June 22, 2009 #
I used to read a few of the BSC books as a kid. But I was more of a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory/The Phantom Tollbooth/Wayside School person. :D
I honestly can’t think of anything that shaped me today though, other than…TV shows and movies (Star Wars! ;o;).
Noellium on June 22, 2009 #
haha, who didn’t read The Babysitter’s Club series?! I don’t really think there are any books that have been that significant for me, but I do have fond memories of being in the 3rd grade and having the teacher read James and the Giant Peach to us. I also loved reading the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Ah, to be young again. I practically don’t even read anything other than textbooks, journal articles and the newspaper anymore.
marilyn on June 22, 2009 #
Matilda was my all time favourite book growing up – that and The Witches. I was gutted when some-one told me that Roald Dahl was dead, as a kid he was the one person I desperately wanted to meet.
Must find that copy of Matilda and pull it out again…
Bobbi on June 22, 2009 #
I loved the BSC books when I was younger! I could never get into the California Diaries spin-off series though. I loved Matilda as well, but I haven’t reread it in a long time.
The one book that I reread on a somewhat regular basis is The Phantom Tollbooth, I love that book. =)
Michelle on June 22, 2009 #
The Babysitter’s Club! I wanted (and tried!) to form my own babysitter’s club.
Arielle on June 22, 2009 #
H’omg, Babysitters Club! I was a fan when I was younger, altthough the series where my heart truly lay was with Goosebumps. I had practically all of the books.
I can’t really say which books “shaped my life,” but there were a few books that, to this day, hold a special place in my heart. Firstly would be JRR Tolkien’s popular works: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Because a minor character in LotR is the basis for my namesake, my parents urged me to start reading the prequel and the trilogy when I was 10.
Another book that sticks out in my mind from when I was younger is The Witches of Worm. It’s a story about a girl who finds this abandoned cat that turns out to be possessed or some shit like that. I don’t really remember too well, the last time I read it, I was in middle school.
Arwen on June 22, 2009 #
I read several BSC books. I read them when I was 6/7 along with Sweet Valley High, so I wasn’t a terribly big fan. I liked that they started their own business, but it was hard for me to picture myself as a baby sister at age 7.
In elementary school, I loved reading Fear Street Books. Those were my favorite. I have a 60-70 (maybe 100) of those. I also enjoyed the American Girl series. Those were awesome, and about hard-working role model types from different time periods in American history.
Chantelle on June 23, 2009 #