The Books That Made Me

Recently there has been a trend on booktok where creators share the different books that shaped who they are in different stages of their lives. This trend has melted my heart a bit and not just because of the adorable childhood photos that creators are posting. Inspired by this trend, I thought I’d share some of the books that have shaped who I am as a person and as a reader. 

Ellie and Elvis 

Ellie and Elvis is a picture book that me and my two sisters shared. It follows a pair of elephant best friends as they dance in the moonlight and learn how to share and forgive each other. Not only were the illustrations in this book beautiful but also the message (Which definitely needed to be heard in a house of three sisters!) When I think back to being read to sleep, this is one of those key books that I remember. Even now the copy we shared is still kept in the house for my niece and nephew. 

Rainbow Magic 

I remember checking these books out of my primary school library all the time! Even recently I’ve sat with friends and talked about what the fairy with our names did. Mine was the laughter fairy if you were interested, which I think is a fair fit. 

Born to Run 

This book was the first story that really sparked my love for reading. It felt like such a big deal to read a full, and what felt like a lengthy, book to myself. It was after reading Born To Run that my confidence in reading also grew and because of this I continued to read longer and more mature books. It was like this book was the stepping stone to becoming a bookworm and I am forever grateful that I found it in my school library. 

The Illustrated Mum 

It was hard to pick just one Jacqueline Wilson book for this list but The Illustrated Mum has kept a little place in my brain ever since I read it. I thought the relationship between the two sisters and their mother was presented beautifully and in an incredibly caring way. Wilson has such a talent in communicating difficult or mature themes to a young audience using empathy. Wilson also highlights stories that for young people can often go unheard and this gives children a chance to feel represented within fiction. These books have definitely shaped who I became as a teenager and adult as they teach acceptance towards whoever you might come across in life. 

Percy Jackson 

In the videos I’ve seen of this trend, Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson books are a staple in the reading journeys of lots of us. I would tear through these and read them in no time at all. Even now I still have an interest in Greek mythology because of these books and I think it’s interesting how so many adults who grew up reading Percy Jackson are now still reading mythology adaptations and retellings. These books obviously left their mark on lots of us! 

Normal People 

I had been in a reading slump for a while when I read Normal People. When I picked up this book it felt like as soon as I turned the first page that I had reignited that love for stories that had begun to dwindle. There’s a phrase some people use to describe Rooney’s writing; ‘no plot, just vibes’. After reading Normal People I realised I loved this kind of writing. I’d never felt so close to characters, as if I was really inside their minds and each mistake, embarrassment or heartbreak felt as real to me as it was to them. 

Atonement 

This is one of my favorite books of all time. Ian McEwan is excellent at creating atmosphere and writing tangible characters that you can equally love and despise. Even just the first part of the book where a stuffy, uncomfortable dinner party goes horrendously wrong was enough to tell me that I would be reading more of McEwan’s novels. Interestingly, it was this book that made me start reading Jane Austen after reading its epigraph of a quote from Northanger Abbey, which happens to be my favorite Austen novel.

What’s next? 

These books take us to the present. I now feel that my taste in books is quite eclectic. I used to only really enjoy literary fiction but in more recent years I do enjoy a bit of everything whether that be horror, fantasy or crime. However, I have realised whilst going through my history of books that I’ve always been drawn to characters and stories that really get into their minds and points of view. It’s so interesting to think about how those first stories you hear as a child can shape what you read, and in turn, who you are as an adult. I wonder how the books I'm currently reading will shape me in the future. There’s only one way to find out and it’s to keep reading!