Basically what the title says: Is there any fiction book you’ve ever read that has emotionally or intellectually connected with you so much it changed the way you viewed the world, changed the way you viewed yourself or changed the way you viewed life (your own or in general)?
If so…
* What book was it?
* Why did it connect so well with you?
* How did it make you feel?
* And how did it change you?
Just to emphasize, I’m solely asking about works of fiction here. So nothing like reading just an academic book on philosophy or a self-help book or something.
by OneOnOne6211
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The celestine Prophecy was a interesting read with a few follow up books on insights of life in general.
Animal Farm
There was a book called Nobody’s Boy. Sans Famille in French. It was a book about a boy who lived happily with his mother. Then one day a man showed up and his mom said it was his dad. The man didn’t like him and sold him. Turned out he wasn’t their biological son.
Why did it connect so well with me?
I was a boy living happily with my mom. Then a man showed up. My dad. He didn’t like me. He abused me and wanted to get rid of me. For years I didn’t dare to go anywhere alone with him because I feared he would sell me. There were nights I cried myself to sleep for fear that I wouldn’t see my mother again.
The Fall by Camus
Catch 22. Made me see a lot of things in a different light.
The Dispossessed by Ursula K Le Guin, close runner up would be Ice by Anna Kavan
Solaris by Stanislav Lem. Changed how I view myself and the world and the things beyond our comprehension
I told my high school English teacher I wanted a book with angst, so he told me to read Crime and Punishment.
I’d never read a book that was a classic and over a century old that gave me so much catharsis. I related to Raskolnikov’s anxiety, I needed Razumikhin’s humor, I loved Dounia’s independence, and Sonia’s grace. The villains made me rage and the heroes gave me hope.
He was a great teacher.
A Thousand Splendid Suns: made me reconsider how I view and handle my estranged relationship with my mom.
Pillars of the Earth: Aliena’s storyline resonated with me and I was compelled by her ability to overcome significant trials and setbacks. Silly as it may sound, I think of her storyline when I need a little encouragement in my own life.
Till We Have Faces: challenged my view of spirituality and religion significantly, to the point of pushing me away from agnosticism and nudging me towards religion.