I just finished *White Oleander* and it’s joined my list of favorite books because of how it depicts the effects of CPTSD on a teen girl’s psyche. I’ve never felt more seen in my life, and it’s brought a sense of peace to my identity that I’ve been seeking the whole time.
What books had a profound effect on you?
by bigbootyyogi
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Girl, Interrupted and The Bell Jar. I’ve struggled with serious mental health issues and suicidality my entire life. My parents were very much of the “just buck up” school of medicine.
Keep the Aspidistra Flying by Orwell. So much of what he says about the “money world” is spot on, and helped me to articulate so many things that I had always felt.
Between the World and Me.
the first time i felt like a book was written directly to me–almost as though it were written by an older, wiser version of myself.
Why I Am Not a Christian and Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects by Russell.
Religion is a tricky subject and many people will try to guilt trip you and question your morality.
The thing is that moral behavior and supernatural belief are entirely separate. I was young and couldn’t fully understand why I was an atheist but Russell’s book assisted me in clarifying the terminology and therefore understand my views and myself more deeply.
There’s this great trilogy for children, *The Sword of the Spirits,* by John Christopher (Sam Youd irl rip). I loved reading those books when very young, they’re about a post-apocalypse (volcanic apocalypse??) Great Britain where tech has been banned because at some point in the past, it was blamed for the civilisation-ending disaster. The main character, Luke, is set up by an interested party to become Prince of Winchester and reunite the warring kingdoms of Britain in order to Further An Interest. Corking adventures.
I identified with Luke when young, but reading them again at around 15 or 16 after half a decade away, my blood ran cold to realise he was an ASSHOLE ha ha, whiny, jealous, paranoid, arrogant, aloof, rigid, aggressive but cowardly… damn Luke is the worst.
I remember feeling a strong need to watch my step after having identified so closely with him before, and having taken all of his excuses for his conduct at face value. I wrote to the author and he was delighted I’d tripped up on that aspect of the story. Real learning moment!