I’ve read many good and interesting books but what has been life changing? Although not having read the Bible in its entirety, it has had the most influence on my life … just not as much as I’d like. Just last year I read “For Her Own Good” by Barbara Ehrenreich and ???? (help me out here); this well written account of the female experience during the past couple of hundred years really answered a lot of the nagging questions I’d been having about my own life. I felt angered and disheartened by much of what I read but also came away well informed and with a new sense of freedom to question and challenge the conventional wisdom of the day. I also love to read just for the sheer, unbridled joy. Agatha Christie, Mary Stewart and P.D. James have written wonderful mysteries that have captivated me so many times. We grew up without television in our home; my conservative parents felt it was frivolous and unedifying. However, there was no restriction on books and I read all kinds of stuff. I didn’t appreciate the lack of television as a child but years later as an adult, I am eternally grateful to my folks for their unique wisdom. I’m afraid I would not have developed an insatiable desire to read had I been under the influence of television when i was young. I now live in a home with multiple T.V.’s and I can hardly stand to watch but I’m always on the prowl for a good book. I’m sorry I can’t remember the name of the co-author of “For Her Own Good” and I can’t even refer to my own copy; like all good books should be, it’s out on loan to someone else.

Betty Feidan’s “The Feminine Mystique”. The entire book was an “ah-ha” moment for me.

My life changing book as a southern raised girl was ” To Kill a Mocking Bird”. My dog Atticus died last year. He was an English Toy Spaniel with big eyes and a magical tail. I spent so many sentences telling people how I was going to write and illustrate a children’s book titled “Atticus and the Magic Tail”. It was one of those things that I thought about everyday. Every morning I woke up and he was there to remind me. That tail wagging to the RPM’s of a hummingbird. To the excitement of another day. To the excitement of a romp in the yard, breakfast and dinner catered on the kitchen floor by a cute waitress aka mom/me. ….. …..and then he died. I also have Scout who we adopted at the same time. Same breed. Cousin of Atticus. Scoutie misses Atticus as much as i do I am sure. Anyhow…. Scout would be another chapter titled “Against All Odds”… I wish I could post a photo of him…how do I do that? Can we do that?

‘Atlas Shrugged’ by Rand and ‘Time Enough for Love’ by Robert Heinlein … both helped me learn to think for myself philosophically when I was young. Yet I would like to submit a non-fiction book as well … one which is totally outside the realm of literature … ‘The Advanced Dungeon and Dragons Dungeon Master’s Guide’. Strange book to put in this list; but if one wants to have a guide in finding a creative solution, total fantasy can - at the least - help you laugh at the issue. Must not forget ‘The Tao’ … That book has helped me navigate my life.

Well I tend to break out in a sweat when asked for “the best…the most…the favorite,” as it triggers an anxiety attack of sorts as I freeze to try to pick “the ultimate” of anything. I get all kooky and analytical and filled with self doubt that I am capable of discerning things to a degree of “the one.” With that said, I will re-frame the question in my head to “What is a life-changing book you have read?” Ah, there now. The color has returned to my face, my heart rate has resumed normal and I’m no longer diaphoretic with that pressure now off. I will now support Whoopi’s take and say that To Kill A Mockingbird completely rocked my world. Left an impression that has never faded…

There is no one book that changed my life, but books that influenced me at certain times in my life. In late childhood I read the Sue Barton nurse series and from then on I wanted to be a nurse despite my poor ability in math and science. I didn’t become one but still have a lingering regret about that. In my early 20s I read ‘Cry the Beloved Country”, James Baldwin’s “Tell Me How Long the Train’s Been Gone” and “Giovanni’s room.” These gave me a new perspective on race. I was introduced to Carl Jung by June Singer’s “Boundaries of the Soul” and went on to read most of the Jung Bollingen series. I also was introduced to Rilke’s poetry. I read a biography of George Sand and went on to read her journal and two of her novels. May Sarton’s journals spoke to me at a certain time of my life. I also like the poetry of Mary Oliver and Amy Clampett. Right now I find inspiration in the books of Pema Chodron, such as “When Things Fall Apart” and “Places that Scare You.” I am an avid reader. My current obsession is mysteries, especially the Italian ones by Donna Leon, Andrea Camillieri and the late Michael Dibdin.

The Story of Sleeping Beauty by A.N. Roliquere, (aka. Anne Rice) The most “awakening” book I have ever read. I have purchased at least 8 copies to give to different female friends as gifts. Every woman should read this trilogy of books!!!

Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. After I read, and reread the book, esp the chapter on Bluebeard, I was never stuck with another archetypal “Bluebeard” again in my life…it’s a book based on Jungian archetypes but oh so much more than that… I’ve read it several times and given it to women friends. I also highly recommend a little but potent book titled Some Men Are More Perfect Than Others by Merle Shain. I also learned a great deal about forgiveness and humanity from The Course in Miracles, although its particular style of Biblical-type language made it something a little other-worldly for me…but it did help me through a very difficult time…I loved Illusions by Richard Bach (it led the way into metaphysical thinking years ago) and Scott O’Dell’s Island of the Blue Dolphins, a book for the middle elementary student, turned out to be a very powerful book for me as I read it each year to my fourth grade students…based on a true story of early California, it’s basically about the survival and empowerment of a bright and resourceful native woman left stranded on an island (one of the Channel Islands) for years.

Eat, Love and Pray

The book that changed my life was one that came too late. It was 1990 and I was going through a divorce from an abusive husband. I don’t remember who told me about this book, but it is a must read for every African American woman- every woman for that matter. The book was “Mad At Miles- A Black Woman’s Guide To The Truth” by Pearl Cleage. This book helped me examine why I ended up in an abusive marriage and literally opened my eyes to the possiblity of a healthy relationship with men. I did not fully adhere to all of the advise and ended up later in a three year relationship with a committment-phobic man. But the happy ending is that I remarried to a good man (we’ve been married 12 years) and I gave it to my daughter when she turned 15. With that book and our great relationship, she has become an honor roll college freshman. Pearl empowers her sisters to remember their worth in a misogynist culture.

Ethan Frome and Nancy Drew impacted my life considerably. I became police detective and now write for my local paper.