Stephanie's Virtual Bookshelf

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

This is one of the first books I read that introduced me the genre of sci-fiction and dsytopian societies. I truly connect with the main protagonist, Tally Youngblood. She is clever, compassionate, and brave enough to undermine the very society that she so desperately wanted to join at the beginning of the novel. This book taught me to question the standards our societies are built on and how to think critically about the ways we choose to navigate them. 

Dear Abby by Abigail Van Buren

This is a work my mother recommended me when I first visited by grandparents house in India. My mother told me the novel was a collection of advice articles by a very famous 1950s journalistic named Pauline Phillips whose pen name was Abigail Van Buren. I loved this novel cause it was not only a collection of memoirs and stories, but it was also a column dedicated for women to share and express their thoughts and opinions during a time when women were expected to be seen and not heard. This novel taught me impact that literature isn't necessarily produced and consumed, but rather it is meant to engage and connect authors to audiences and vice versa. Literature provides outlets and safe spaces for those voices who want and need to be heard.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

This work was one of the few books I actually enjoyed reading as part of my middle school curriculum, because up until that point all the books I had read prior were about male protagonists. This book is an exciting story about a young English girl named Charlotte who leaves on a month long voyage to North America on a ship complete with an all-male crew and captain. Despite the harassment she receives from the crew, Charlotte quickly learns the tricks and trades of the ship and by the end of the novel she becomes the captain. This novel shaped me by introducing to me new hero, a young girl that was in many ways like me in middle school. This piece of literature helped me to understand that the most important part of storytelling is that it is open to everyone no matter their race, age, or sex.

Dawn by Octavia Butler

This is one of the few novels that stood out to me when I took a feminist sci-fiction writing course last fall. I really enjoyed this novel cause it was through the perspective a young, African American mother named Lilith and her interactions with an alien race called the Oankali. Soon after to learns the Oankali way of life, she becomes an ambassador for the human race because long before the she met the Oankali, the Earth blew up after nuclear war the Oankali saved the surviving members of the human race. This novel grapples a lot with the ambiguity of social constructions like femininity, masculinity. This novel is valuable in its contributions to a lot of difficult topics like consent, rape, and exploitation.

"I, Too" by Langston Hughes

I really enjoyed analyzing this poem for LIT2000. This poem, through it's careful and thoughtful choice of words was able to effectively and powerful describe the experience of African Americans during the 1930s in America. This poem not only illuminates the oppression felt by the author and his community, but it also opens up a dialogue. It encourages and challenges people from other views, backgrounds, and perspectives to weigh in and discuss the nature of this systemic injustice.

Genevieve's Virtual Bookshelf

Five books that have shaped me as a person:

1. The Odd Thomas Series by Dean Koontz:

My mom suggested I read these books and I am so grateful that she did. The protagonist, Odd Thomas, illustrated the type of person that I aspire to be like. He is kind, compassionate, and always willing to do what is right even though it put himself in danger. He taught me a lot about what it means to be a good person and that personal connections is the most important thing in life. Odd Thomas is and most likely will always be my favorite protagonist, the adventures that I was able to go on with him have stayed with me long after I finished the series. 

"Life , Stormy says, is not about how fast you run or even with what degree of grace. It's about perseverance, about staying on your feet and slogging forward no matter what." 

2. One Door Away From Heaven by Dean Koontz:

This is another book that has helped shape me as a person by Dean Koontz, my favorite author. I read this book the summer before starting the fall semester here at UF. Once I picked it up I could not stop reading it and I finished it in a couple of days. This book highlighted having strength in adversity as the three protagonists have to overcome their own hardships in order to help each other. The idea that nothing in life is by accident or coincidence still lingers with me still after reading this particular novel. How each individual person is one piece in the mosaic that we call life, and I can always find comfort in that concept. I have always loved reading Dean Koontz because in every story that I have read by him, Good always triumphs evil. This is a reoccurring theme in most of his books and I always find a newfound sense of hope every time I read a book by him. 

"Even in the darkest moments, light exists if you have the faith to see it. Fear is a poison produced by the mind, and courage is the antidote stored always in the soul. In misfortune lies the seed of future triumph"

3. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy:

 I had to read this book for class my senior year of high school and it was a book that I thoroughly enjoyed and it gave me a different outlook on life. This book follows a family in living in India and the hardships they go through as their life is dictated by "love laws". This book taught me a lot about how small things can end up having a huge effect on your life later down the road and that everything I will do in life will have an effect on me one way or another. This book really opened my eyes to how lucky I am because I have the freedom to make my own decisions. There are other people in the world who do not have this freedom and everything from who they can love to other things such as what they can wear are dictated for them. A lot of what the characters went through in this novel paralleled with the Author's life. Often throughout the story she would insert her opinions on the ridiculousness of the way the Indian culture treated women and class separations. This contributes to the concept of why do authors write literature because this particular author chose to write to shed light on the conditions that people in this culture and lifestyle had to face. 

"Little events, ordinary things, smashed and reconstituted. Suddenly, they became the bleached bones of a story." 

4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte:

 This was another book that I had to read in high school that gave me a new outlook on myself. When reading the novel, at first I never understood why she left Mr. Rochester in the first place because I feel that I never would have. Now, though I understand her need for independence and to seek more for herself and not to just settle in life. She was treated unfairly her whole life, yet she still showed compassion to the people who did her wrong and that is something I hope to be able to do. It's hard to forgive people sometimes, but it is always better to forgive then to hold on to the past because it is an added weight on your shoulders. I respected Jane's character and her independence and she taught me what it means to be true to yourself and to find the courage to do things to better yourself.

"I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will"

5. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

 This novel is unlike anything I have read before. I thought that writing it as a comic book was such an interesting and unique way to convey Satrapi's autobiography. Through the illustrations the reader is able to gain a different understanding of the storyline which I thought was really cool. This novel has given my a new perspective on the hardships some cultures face. Marjane goes through so much in her life from bomb threats to living away from her family at 14. This novel has also taught me how important it is to stay true to yourself and to your values. And even if you stray away from your values or do not act like you usually do, you can always find a way back to your true self.  Marjane's independence inspired me because I feel that I would not have been able to handle leaving my family at such a young age. She always stood up for herself and her culture even though she did not necessarily agree with every aspect of her culture. The author wrote this novel to tell her life story and how everything she went through made her into the person that she is today. 

"I finally understood what my grandmother meant. If I wasn't comfortable with myself, I would never be comfortable." 

Ashley's Virtual Bookshelf

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Suess

The cat in the hat was my favorite book as a young child. My parents read me this book over and over again as a child in order to help me learn how to read. I remember how proud my parents were when I could read some of the words on my own. The memories of reading this book help me to understand why we read literature. Reading this book helped me to build a bond with my parents as a young child, and literature can help people build connections with others. The Cat in the Hat was part of the reason that I loved to read and learn so much as a kid.

The Magic Treehouse Series by Marie Pope Osborne

I loved to read the Magic Treehouse series all the time when I was a young because I was part of a neighborhood book club that read and discussed a few of The Magic Treehouse books. I believe that Marie Pope Osborne wrote these books so that kids had a chance to escape and feel like they are in a different world when reading. The adventures were always exciting and intriguing. Reading this series also helped me to feel connected to other kids in my neighborhood. I was always excited to discuss the book with my friends at every book club meeting. 

The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice is the play that helped me to understand how to read Shakespeare. I enjoyed the plot when I first read it in high school, and because I read this play multiple times, I became accustomed to Shakespearean language. The play also talks about important themes like mercy, which is a concept that I value and try to practice in my own life. Portia's speech was something that stuck with me after reading the play. I also appreciate Portia's strong female role when she pretended to be a man and convinced Shylock to spare Antonio's life. I think this play was written by Shakespeare to express his values. The Merchant of Venice is my favorite Shakespearean play.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan

I started reading the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series because a girl in my neighborhood recommended the first book in the series to me in fifth grade. I ended up becoming really close friends with the girl because every morning before school we would meet to talk about the book, and we even saw the movie together. Even when my friend moved in seventh grade, we continued to stay in touch. This series helped to establish one of my closest friendships. This was my favorite series throughout a lot of middle school, and it helped keep me interested in reading as I grew older. 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carleton

The Very Hungry Caterpillar was another book I read many times with my mom as a young kid. I was fascinated by the pictures in this book, and our house became filled with books by Eric Carleton. I think Eric Carleton wrote these picture books in order to creatively display his interesting artwork. I remember being so excited to read when my mom brought home a new Eric Carleton book. I think reading with parents as a child is a great way to form a bond between parent and child. This was another book that caused me to love reading as a kid.

Shannon's Virtual Bookshelf

BOOKS THAT SHAPED WHO I AM TODAY

1. 1984

I chose 1984 by George Orwell because it influenced the way that I view my past, present, and future. This text was published in 1949, and it was intended to foreshadow a possibility of what the future may hold for our country. Since we have long passed 1984, I realize that we are blessed as American citizens to live in a free country where we can enjoy the freedoms granted to us by the Constitution. Throughout my life, I have been reminded of the struggles that citizens of other nations have in order to be treated as equals and to be able to live a life where they are free from government constrictions.  Our current freedoms from government control allow us to live life as we please. We are able to choose our jobs, our spouses, whether or not we want to pursue education, and all other major life decisions. I have become more grateful and appreciative of the country that we live in as well as the life that we are able to choose to live. The theme of control presented in 1984 has a small representation to the oppression of slaves in Beloved. Their lives were controlled by their masters and they had no say in what they did.

2. A Farewell to Arms

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway impacted my life in the most positive way it could, although it is a tragic story of a soldier and his partner, Catherine. This past May, I lost my grandfather to cancer; he was the first close family member of mine to pass away. Our family knew that he had cancer, but he never told us that he only had a short time left. When he went into hospice care, we knew that he had little to no time, so we made the best of it. After he passed away, I knew our family gatherings would never be the same. After reading A Farewell to Arms, I realized that life is valuable, but also cyclical. We never truly know when any of our loved ones will pass away, but life continues regardless. Just as Frederic Henry lost Catherine and his still-born baby boy, we too can lose loved ones with no warning. I have learned to cherish the moments we have with the people we love while we can and to be able to accept such tragedies when they occur and grow from them. This story of acceptance relates to the theme found in The Moons of Jupiter when Janet has to learn to accept the ultimate fate of her father. She doesn't know whether her father will survive the surgery or not so she must prepare for the worst. She accepts the possible passing of her father in the surgery just as my family and I learned to accept the passing of my grandfather.

3. A Good Man is Hard to Find

This was probably my favorite class reading this year. I learned the most from this short story: that we must put our idea of what society believes we are aside and realize who we truly are. Even though I only recently read this, it has already began to impact how I develop myself as a person through college. As college students, we now live without the complete guidance of our parents and are able to grow as an individual. I am beginning to learn what I want to be in the future rather than what the most influential people in my life want me to be. In addition, I am becoming more involved in clubs and activities in college that I did not pursue in high school. I am learning to look into who I am as a person: who I identify as and what my interests are. I am no longer conforming to who people say I am and what people want me to be.

4. Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre taught me that, although I am a female, I am powerful enough to overcome gender stereotypes in society. In current society, women have become more equal to men however we still face daily inequalities, such as the right to choose our reproductive rights and our current salaries (compared to men's). Although men may be physically more powerful than women, women are just as intelligent and have the capability to hold the same job positions as men. In addition, it taught me that we have the ability to make the most of our lives. Jane Eyre was poor and therefore was not viewed as high in society. She dismissed this idea and pursued what made her happy. She remained honest with herself and her emotions, but did not allow them to negatively impact her life. Eyre communicated how she was feeling so that she did not miss out on something that could change her life for the better. She wisely states, "It is madness in all women to let a secret love kindle within them, which, if unreturned and unknown, must devour the life that feeds it". I have learned to always communicate what is bothering me in hopes that my life will be impacted positively. The power of the woman can also be seen in Persepolis. Marji, as a female in Iran, must break the stereotypes of the role of women in her society. She follows her own path and "wanted to be an educated, liberated woman. And if the pursuit of knowledge meant getting cancer, so be it". Marji, just like Jane, overcomes the stereotypes that are placed upon her in society and stays true to who she is.

5. The Old Man and the Sea

Even though life may give you challenges, perseverance and determination can help you overcome these challenges. I have been dancing since I was three-years old. When I started attending conventions, scholarships were handed out to a certain amount of dancers in a class of about two to three hundred. For the first four years of attending three conventions a year, I was never called back after the first round. I would always leave the convention in tears, thinking I was not a good enough dancer to be competing. Finally, in my fifth year of conventions, I was called back to the final rounds. My confidence was boosted and I was filled with happiness. Although I didn't win a scholarship that year, I knew that all the experience I had and all the hard work I put into the art that I love finally paid off. I persevered through multiple injuries and denial for many years, but it made me a stronger person and a better dancer. This can be paralleled to the theme discussed in Dickinson's Hope is the Thing with Feathers. We all go through hardships at some points in our lives, but hope and perseverance can help us to overcome these hardships.

Brooke's Bookshelf

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

• The Perks of Being a Wallflower remains one of my most frequently quoted novels. Advising my life and my friends’, The Perks of Being a Wallflower features as one of the most relatable and relevant books I have ever encountered. For Literary Society, I created a presentation based on this book and the universal understanding of some of the conflicts the characters endure continues to serve as  one of the pivotal characteristics instilled by Stephen Chbosky. Last year, I reminded my friend almost daily that “We accept the love we think we deserve” and “can we make them know that they deserve more?” “We can try” (Chbosky). Throughout life, people seem to forget their own importance, but people deserve to seek happiness - even those who do not believe they earned it. “You can’t just sit there and put everybody’s lives ahead of yours and think that counts as love,” since I always put others before myself, and this statement serves as only one example of the quotes from this novel that I frequently try to remember in my daily life (Chbosky). Above my bed, on my wall, I have a collection of quotes, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower often serves as a positive reassurance in my life.

• In regards to why we read, The Perks of Being a Wallflower applies extremely personally to my life, but universally has this individual effect on so many people. Langston Hughes’ poem, “I,Too” similarly speaks of individual experiences that represent a larger community. The power writing has to articulate thoughts an individual may have never managed to clearly identify and describe, and the ability to highlight how others can relate to the experiences we have, makes books like The Perks of Being a Wallflower especially poignant.

The Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling

• Harry Potter may not classify as magical realism, the genre of books such as Beloved, but the realistic problems addressed in a magical community contributes to the series’ ability to shape children’s development. Focusing on a boy wizard, the series manages to cleverly introduce the problems of racism and classism, thereby shaping the way young children reading the novels view the world. As a child, these books tended to dictate what qualities should hold the most importance. When people viewed an avid reader and studious student as a model, it became increasingly important to remember that “There are more important things- friendship and bravery” (Rowling). With bushy hair and a love for reading, I related to Hermione Granger, who showed that choosing to spend time in the library or studying could prove more helpful than harmful. I never needed a large group of friends as long as I knew I had at least one person I could trust to always support me and care for me. Often finding reasons why people do not deserve my trust with great ease, I finally found people that continuously prove how much they care about me. Accustomed to individuals using me for homework help or questions related to school, Hermione’s ability to find such secure friendships gave me hope. Also, my favorite quote, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light,” continues to hang on my wall and serve as a powerful reminder that, in spite of how hopeless a situation can seem, I have the power to create a better environment or experience.

• The Harry Potter series confirmed my love for reading. With the ability to escape to Hogwarts and a world of magic concocted by J.K Rowling, I discovered one of the primary opportunities books can offer. Without the Harry Potter series, I think my life and personality may have developed differently. J.K Rowling may have crafted the series due to financial concerns for her family, but her works still resemble art- speaking to people across the world to change their views and opinions while offering entertainment. The way Rowling mingles enjoyment with the discussion of serious issues embodies a major reason people read.The reasons people write and read remain incredibly diverse, but the combinations of motivations allow for a wide impact and varied perspectives on specific subjects that, when evaluated, can contribute to strong, inclusive, arguments.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

• The honesty in this book experiences few rivals. Thirteen Reasons Why exposed, to me, the impact that words and actions can have, and while one person may think nothing of a situation- it could change someone else’s life. Even with the realization that anything could significantly impact other people, the exposure Jay Asher offers allows readers to truly recognize that words and actions could mean more than expected. This book altered how I viewed the world, and made me more aware of the minutiae that can impact people. Throughout my life, I have had an array of encounters with struggling individuals, and I have found it increasingly important to always try to understand other people as thoroughly as possible and consider all of the possible circumstances or outcomes they may face so that I can try to effectively assist them in handling the difficulties they endure.

• Thirteen Reasons Why seeks to reveal the harm people can cause, in the hope of making society more aware of the problems it perpetuates. Through utilizing literature to raise awareness, hopefully society can progress and minimize the negativity surrounding people on a daily basis. Through highlighting the detrimental and destructive actions that some people feel forced to succumb to, maybe others will learn to remain more cognizant of their interactions and treatment of people. Jay Asher vividly portrays subject matter that other authors or creators may tend to shy away from. With a bold approach to a serious topic, Jay Asher writes to try to instigate change and prompt positive growth.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

• John Green powerfully depicts teenagers struggling with life-changing and life-threatening illness in The Fault in Our Stars, and his portrayal of relatable characters that exist as people separate from their disease, emphasizes the importance of recognizing people for their complexity and refraining from judging people based on one detail. Hazel struggles with the pity and judgement passed upon her by the prominence of her oxygen tank, but the novel reveals the similarities “sick” individuals have to those considered of “normal” health. My grandfather died of lung cancer, and one of my friends from high school just finished treatment for osteosarcoma (the cancer that plagues Augustus in the novel), and The Fault in Our Stars reminds me of the power people retain to enjoy life in spite of the afflictions they face. Love and life can exist even in the face of death, and The Fault in Our Stars serves as a powerful testament for the capabilities of individuals to maintain control of some aspects of their lives even when certain components seem uncontrollable. The power of choice, deciding how to approach a situation, can make all of the difference in a person’s life. This idea has since come to govern my views in the world, and I have tried to become less afraid to take chances and try to have more diverse experiences.

• The theme of life and death in The Fault in Our Stars serves as reminiscent of the theme of life and death in “The Dead” by James Joyce. Augustus lives to seize every moment, recognizing that he may not have the opportunity to waste any time due to the threat that cancer poses to his life, while Hazel has a preoccupation with not seeming like a grenade to the people around her, so she tries to minimize the effect she has on others in hopes of having her death not cause as much pain. In Joyce’s “The Dead”, the lifeless house party critiques the living that do not seek to truly experience life.  The focus on the haunting nature of death in both stories attests to the prevalence of the theme, thereby suggesting the ability people from different backgrounds have to relate to the ideas.

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

• Typically, I do not find myself seeking out memoirs nor trying to find graphic novels, but Persepolis introduced me to a new reading experience that I enjoyed. Satrapi’s memoir allowed for the examination of the experiences that shaped her development, while offering a unique perspective on Iranian politics and culture. Reading Persepolis enabled me to gain a better understanding of the people and history of Iran, which contributes to building my ability to consider policies and ideologies that impact that region with a more broad comprehension of the subjects and situations. Previously, I had a limited exposure to information regarding Iran, so the evaluation of the nation through the honesty of Marji offered me a seemingly authentic view of the state of affairs regarding Iran. Due to the introduction of this book through class, I have a new outlook on life in America compared to life in other nations. The strength and poise with which Satrapi explores her nation contributes to the image people in various may develop, but the desire to learn the truth reveals the impact art can have in portraying information.

• The opportunities for development, understanding, and growth presented by novels such as Persepolis contribute to the possibilities that readers have to foster comprehensive, diverse groups and conversations. This ability to become a more cultured, understanding person leads me to find the appeal of reading more historically- focused novels.

Reading changes lives- it shaped and changed mine. 

Ryan's Virtual Bookshelf

The Books That Built Ryan

1. Everyday by David Levithan

Everyday takes the number one spot on the list of books that shape who I am because of how much emotional connection I have with many of the book's concepts. I read this book within a year of coming out to my parents, and the normalization of queer love within this work helped me to embrace who I am and showed the importance of love triumphing any obstacle in its path. My favorite part about this work is how the main character has no given gender, as they are someone who wakes up in a different body everyday; they simply go by the name "A". Additionally, this work connects to a rare mental health condition I suffer from known as depersonalization, an anxiety illness where I feel as though the world around me and everything I'm seeing is not real and is not happening, as though I am stuck in a dream. Everyday is one of the few things that helps me through such an uncomfortable and frightening condition as it connects and deals with feelings unreality and the desensitization that you are not within your own body. Similar to how Satrapi writes The Complete Persepolis to present the reality of life in Iran, Levithan writes this work to contribute to portray the reality of LGBT people. At the end of the day, they too are humans and want what everyone else desires in life: Love, prosperity, and happiness.

ᐯ

2.  Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

       

Their Eyes Were Watching God holds a lot of significance in the reader - and the person - I am today. Before I read this book I couldn't seem to grasp the fundamentals of how to analyze literature, with no motivation to do so consequently. However, this work provided an important breakthrough. It seemed like the words in every sentence were beautifully sewn together to create a piece that represents the meaning of love and the black community during the 20th century. Every sentence I read it seemed like she was directly speaking to me through indirect metaphors, themes, and motifs that softly caught my attention. Finally, I understood the transcendence behind literature and its analyzation, something I found myself to be quite good at. Alongside this was her effortless ability to create awe-inspiring passages that speaks to her talent for carefully cherry picking the precise words that flow. I now thought that literature and the ability for art to hold double meaning through its story and presentation was mind-altering and eye-opening. Additionally, the Harlem Renaissance is one of my favorite art movements. With the work of Langston Hughes and other black artists at the time, Hurston was part of a movement that defined what it meant to be proud of one's blackness. This idea speaks to my embrace of equality for all genders, ethnicities, races, and sexualities. Additionally, she is from my hometown in a borough of Melbourne Florida, and spoke at a predecessor high school that I went to in the 1950's, which I think to be really fascinating since she wrote one of my favorite works.

ᐯ

3. On the Pulse of Morning by Maya Angelou 

On the Pulse of Morning as well as other poems by Maya Angelou is a significant piece which has come to shape my love and appreciation for poetry. The first time I came across this poem it was played over a commercial that coincided with the poem's theme of triumph in the face of defeat and disparity. By the end, and on Angelou's delivery of the last line, I had chills running down my spine. The voice she envelops this piece with through its recital brings such warmth, comfort, and reassurance. In many times I look to this poem to remind myself of those powerful, wonderful, beautiful words: "History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived. But if faced with courage, need not be lived again." I turn to this poem for a revival and renewal of my spirit, reminiscent of the pulse of a new morning. In many ways this poem has taught me to keep moving and persevere in the face of adversity. It especially helped me to coin my favorite types of poems, which are ones that have more of a literal and direct meaning toward life, that speak truths through beautiful language.

ᐯ

4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower helped shape who I am today by teaching me to be comfortable with who I am, and helped me cope and learn how to realize that your perception of you is not reality. This work helped me come to peace with the idea that my inner demons, while a part of me, are something that everyone has and everyone can overcome. As a reader, it helped to shape the stories I like to read and the genre I prefer to go after, which is stories that involve realistic fiction and observe the lives of regular human beings and the struggles we all go through. I also have an emotional connection and have found solace in Charlie, the main character. My bright vibrant outside personality often conceals whatever emotions or struggles I go through, and the somber, oftentimes depressing mindset of Charlie offers a cathartic healing and safe place for those emotions

 ᐯ

5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby was another book that helped me in my ability to analyze literature, but more specifically shaped my appreciation for the art form of literature as it brought the 1920's to life. Through the entirety of my time reading, I have always had a hard time visualizing a story as it appears on words on a page, yet the vivid description offered by Fitzgerald helped me to better obtain a grasp on visualization. I distinctly remember how much depth he was able to give one of the main characters, Jordan Baker, with just a few sentences. This work also developed me as a reader as it shaped my love for works with very deep, complex, and vivid characters that contain such a personality despite the fact that they are fictional. It helps me to build an appreciation as to the talents of authors as this is not an easy thing to do. It also helped shape my love for many decades within the 20th century, as it created a passion for many works of art and styles of the time.

Angello's Virtual Bookshelf

Angello's Bookshelf

1.     Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – J.K. Rowling

A choice many will make, this book peaked my curiosity at the power of the human mind. The books of Harry Potter reveal a world of wonder in words that you then create inside your head. While reading, the creation of places such as Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and Little Whinging were created effortlessly and subconsciously. Once I put the book down for the first time, I realized I had created a world inside my head, one which contained my own version of the shade of red for Gryffindor, my own interpretation of just how high the seats at the quidditch game were, and my own vision of how old Albus Dumbledore really looked. Literature is written for many reasons, and one of those is to entertain. Throughout this course, we’ve learned that there does not have to be a reason why an author writes a book other than they simply wanted to, but I believe J.K. Rowling wouldn’t have written her seven installments if not for her then situation. I believe this fueled her imagination and in turn, peaked mine. Nevertheless, I first read Harry Potter to keep myself busy, and ended up reading all seven books because I was hooked on the joy of wonder.

2.     Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief – Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief was just as much fun to read as any Harry Potter book, however this book shaped my way as a scholar more than anything.  The creativity of the story, along with the dynamic characters are what captivated me, but what really hooked me onto the book was the huge role of Greek mythology in the story. Every small detail written into the plot was an allusion to a Greek God or myth, a personification of some Greek monster, or a direct quote from Greek epics or myths. This book addresses the big picture question of what we can learn from books, and for me, this book taught me to appreciate Greek mythology’s various tales, epics, and heroes. Riordan set out on a quest to entertain with the writing of Percy Jackson, but also made it his mission to teach and educate the youth about a series of heroes and legends that should never be forgotten about. 

3.     1984 – George Orwell

George Orwell’s 1984 was a reading assignment introduced to me about 5 years ago. Before then, books were simply a way to pass time and indulge myself in worlds of wonder. This book was a game changer. I was tasked with identifying and analyzing the intents and actions of the protagonist, Winston Smith. My book was riddle with sticky notes full of predictions that were ultimately wrong. Instead of getting frustrated, I found myself fascinated at the way Orwell indulged us into a political conversation that boggled our brains throughout the story. This book was an example of political commentary that spoke volume about its time, and future times to come. I began reading this for a grade, but ended up reading it because of its ability to shed light on political conspiracies. It has shaped how I carefully approach books, and how effective I am when it comes to breaking down passages. Throughout our course, we have discussed how authors use their platform for political commentary, such as with Dante's Inferno, and this book is no exception. The same approach was used, but with Orwell's being more obvious and direct towards his government. The result for me, however, was the same; I was fascinated and shaped into understanding a viewpoint that helped me question my own political standpoint. 

4.     Stiff – Mary Roach

Mary Roach’s Stiff was another high school assignment from previous years. From all the choices, this piece of literature singlehandedly has shaped who I am today the most. The book is simply a record of Roach’s observations with human cadavers, but offers so much more. From the sarcastic tone, to the medical jargon, to the descriptive imagery; this book has it all. The fascination that instilled Roach with cadavers was transferred to me. This book showed me I was a closeted medical student. Because of this realization, I applied to all the best medical colleges, joined HOSA, and began volunteering at hospitals. Simply put, the simple assignment to finish this book was a one-way ticket to my eventual destiny. As with Persepolis, Mary Roach’s Stiff was written to shed light on an important topic. Persepolis was written to showcase the horrors of Iranian life during times of war, and Stiff was written so more people would donate their bodies to science to help supply the much-needed cadaver storage for medical research. My purpose for reading the entirety of the book, which wasn’t necessary, was simple; her figurative language, sarcastic tone, and her purpose kept me hooked all the way until the end.

5.     Because I Could Not Stop for Death – Emily Dickinson

Last but not least, I came across Dickinson’s poem Because I Could Not Stop for Death as a homework assignment, but ended up, for the first time, enjoying the process of picking apart a poem, dissecting each line, and actually understanding the purpose of each element, and ultimately, the poem. I was never a fan of poetry, but this specific poem made me read more poems in one week than my whole high school career. I didn’t find a connection between the author’s words and my own experiences, but I could understand the message Dickinson was trying to portray. Her purpose, as far as my understanding goes, was to inform readers of the inevitable, and let us know that accepting our fate is sweeter than resisting it. After digging into her figurative language, it became clear to me that there was no other purpose for her to write this poem. After reading it countless times, I came to realize that most poems have such strong purposes for being written, and those purposes show everyone a strong message to be delivered; each different and each as important as the reader makes it. This poem exemplifies why we write and read literature; we write to convey our feelings, emotions, and ideas, and we read to make connections to others who share ideas, emotions, and feelings.