So this person must be outside of family, which was previously prompted on Day 10. But which kind of influence?
Big influence, such as CS Lewis whose “The Great Divorce” is the most impacting work I’ve read outside the Bible?
Small influence, such as Marilynne Robinson, whose “Gilead” brings me to heart thumping, resonant responses?
Or my kindergarten Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Goldie Duke, who received my fistful of dandelions on a Sunday morning with enthusiasm?
Significant influence, such as my high school English teacher, who introduced me to Shakespeare and Dickens–who brought in her already old 3D model of the Globe Theatre?
My first love, who broke my heart for the first time?
My forever best friend, about whom I’ve already written here?
All of these influencers and unnamed others taught me either by actual lessons or by tweaking my heart. I carry them with me daily in my memories, interactions and introspection. They shaped my preferences, my responses to life, my goals and my deep memories. And for that, I am grateful.
In no particular order of significance, here are my picks:
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel.
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Lila by Marilynne Robinson
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by CS Lewis
The Great Divorce by CS Lewis
Great Expectations was the first full novel I ever read. When I closed the book, I knew something had changed inside me. Dickens continues to be a favorite of mine. No one creates characters like Dickens.
The Life of Pi and A Prayer for Owen Meany made me cry. Owen Meany has the best opening line I’ve ever read in a novel.
East of Eden gripped and horrified me and made me think about the nature of evil and good. I will say that the 1981 film version starring Jane Seymour is my favorite interpretation of the novel despite everyone else loving James Dean’s movie. Jane Seymour was more frightening in this film than Sissy Spacek was in Carrie!
The Age of Innocence is beautiful, poignant, heartbreaking. I have seen the older and newer film versions, as well.
All the Light We Cannot See ripped my heart up. I don’t usually read WWII novels. They are too intense for me. Since my dad was a WWII veteran, the war doesn’t seem that distant in the past; the horror of it all seems real and recent to me.
Lila and Gilead are graceful, gentle, beautiful.
The Murmur of Bees was my first foray into magical realism. I just loved this story.
A Gentleman in Moscow was thought provoking and emotionally satisfying.
The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe is the first fantastical novel I ever read, and I was an adult when I read it. I was moved to tears at the symbolic portrayal of grace. I’ve read all of the Chronicles of Narnia, and they have taught me about courage, grace and faith.
The Great Divorce, other than the Bible, has made the most lasting impression on me. More than any other book, I think about it almost daily.
One Hoosier Life 