Read And Revel

Favorite all-time book: Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Honorable Mention: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.

Childhood obsession: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (Particularly, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader).

Honorable mention: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. 

Teenage obsession: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. (The vampire craze was a great time to be alive!)

Books that impacted me permanently:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky

This is not only a phenomenal book, but in my opinion the single best book to screen adaptation. As someone who once felt a wallflower, feeling as though I’d lost my friends and identity as a teenager during a life shift, this book gave me so much hope. I could find my way too. 

Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris

I found this book as a teenager and couldn’t even consider the possibilities. The ability to challenge myself, to actually make a difference at such a young age seemed impossible, but somehow they had done it. This book inspired me to at least try and gave me confidence to tackle challenges. 

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

I had always loved the idea of traveling, despite how limited my travel had been when I read this as a young adult. This read pulled at me emotionally, showing new perspectives in a world so far from my own. All these years later it’s still a steady comfort read.  

Swell: A Sailing Surfer’s Voyage of Awakening by Liz Clark

I had been following Liz’s blog for around a year when she decided to publish her story. I was amazed that a girl, just someone ordinary, could be so bold and adventurous to carve out her own place in the world, alone, and sailing the sea! Such an inspiration. 

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafazi

This book was one of the first multicultural books I had read, really diving in to learn from someone in another culture what life is like, the good, the bad and the ugly. I was devastated to learn just how deep the misogyny ran in those who would control her country. Growing up in the South, a lot of patriarchal thinking is still common, but I had never known there were people who still would go this far to oppress women. 

Mind Hunter by John E Douglas

This is something I discovered in recent years. I had always loved true crime but had stopped reading and watching much. I didn’t like the focus being on the predator, and everyone saying the same facts everyone can find on Wikipedia. I loved his insider perspective not only as a federal agent, but someone who actually studied these individuals to uncover more about why we have killers today. Their often dark and abusive past never excuses their behavior, but it’s fascinating to see how their life and experiences allowed them to consciously make these decisions. 

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

I was recommended this in a legal studies class, and I am so glad that I read it. It’s devastating to read these stories from not so long ago of people who used the system to oppress and imprison those who did not deserve it, then threaten the people who tried to help. A Knock at Midnight by Brittany Barnett is another more recent book in a very similar vein. As a (hopefully) future lawyer, I love reading stories of those who used their education and opportunities to help the most destitute among us. I hope someday to do the same.