Life-Changing Reads

As Far Away as China, J. Boyer: I am biased because my daddy wrote it. When I read the words, it is as if I can hear him speaking them—and for that, it will always be my favorite book in the entire world.

All The King’s Men, Robert Penn Warren: I adore every line in this book. When I write, I aspire to write in Warren's style.

Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck: From the opening page to the closing page, this story moves me in a way that no other has before. I find myself believing in the characters, feeling the pain that they feel, and wanting them to triumph when all odds are against them—even when I know the ending.

My Sister’s Keeper, Jodi Picoult: I cried harder reading this book than I had reading almost anything else. This was the book that taught me how seriously a book could affect me.

The Killer Angels, Michael Shaara: This is the only war book I have read in which I find myself seriously invested in the characters and their well-being. Every character seems like a man that I might know, not a General written about in a textbook.

Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck: I often reread this book when I forget how quickly Steinbeck can capture my attention, only to leave me to ponder one hundred pages later. This is the shortest of my favorites, but its lesson is at least as large as those of the others.

The Doll People, Marlin Godwin Selznick: This was the first book that I read three times. Selznick made my childhood fantasies come to life on the page in his descriptions of the dollhouse coming to life at night.

Animal Farm, George Orwell: This is the first book I can remember admiring for its intelligence and tone.

Nineteen Minutes, Jodi Picoult: I could not turn the pages quickly enough when reading this. A book written on a chilling topic, Nineteen Minutes was full of lines that continue to haunt me.

A People’s History of the United States, Howard Zinn: Although I am yet to finish this giant book, it has opened my eyes to the importance of studying history and acknowledging many different perspectives. Reading this cemented my love of U.S. history.