Just wondering what book or books had the most influence, positive or negative, on your life? I recently picked up "1984" and it has me doing a lot of thinking.
"Ami, el niño de las estrellas" by Enrique Barrios. It was the first novel I read, when I was six, and it definitely marked my way of thinking. Then... "Steppenwolf", by Hermann Hesse... "Rayuela" by Julio Cortázar (a great influence on my writing)... "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte.
Narziss und Goldmund -Hermann Hesse- It changed the way I looked at people (in a positive way!). But I believe his books have a mayor influence (especially on teenagers). Love!
That has influenced other writers? This isn't the sort of question I could answer with just one book, since there are, of course, many genres of literature. One book may influence tons of writers who write in a certain style, but may mean nothing to other writers. Yes, Crime And Punishment, I agree, has been a huge influence. Hmmmm... I haven't finished it, but Ulysses by James Joyce has certainly been widely influential. I dunno. Maybe I'll think about it and add more later.
Sorry. You said "on your life". Hmmmm... I really don't know. I've read billions of books, I could maybe make a Top 10 list. I think I'll end this post like the last one and say "maybe I'll think of a list and come back later".
Tough question.. I don't think I could pick just one book because there are so many out there to choose from, but I definately find Kerouac's books to be very influential in my life. Probably why he is one of my all time favorite authors. Also a few Hesse books, and "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn. I read that a while back and found it to be quite interesting.
some wildflower in my heart- very easily written (easy to read, if that makes any sense) really gives you a perspective on how you can live
the teachings of don juan charlotte's web (it made me stop eating pork when i was little) steal this book (actually, all the abbie hoffman books, but i read this one first) lost horizon by james hilton (it made me get into reading again) and many many more
I think I was 12 when I first read Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl and it totally changed my way of seeing the world. Before, I hadn't really realized how terrible the world can be. There are lots and lots of books that have had influence in my life, but this is the first one that comes to mind and there really are too many to mention here.
The philosophical parts of Robert Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and Lila, absolutely and permanently changed my fundamental understanding of reality. And, to some extent, these books have also altered my fragile, little mind: Ishmael by Daniel Quinn (The philosophical part is great but the story is . . . well . . . less than brilliant), the Bhagavad Gita, the Tao Te Ching, Be Here Now by Ram Dass, The Hero With A Thousand Faces and just about anything else by Joseph Campbell.
