List three books that have had an impact on you. Why?

As a child my greatest form of entertainment was reading. That was well before 24-hour color television, computers and the internet, or e-readers and mobile phones. There was something exciting about going to the library and looking through the stacks for a new book to read. Sometimes I would look for a book by a favorite author. Often I would peruse titles and one would jump out, calling for further investigation. I usually checked out six books at a time. Picture an eight year old girl racing along a busy city street carrying a pile of books.

Even more exciting was buying a new book. There is something about bookstores that still gets my juices flowing. It used to be the scent and lighting. As soon as I stepped through the door all my senses were on high alert. Unlike the library where my choices were limited to the children’s section, the bookstore offered the added delight of “grown up” books. With such a vast selection it was possible to spend the better part of a day exploring different genres.

I almost immediately seized on mysteries. My father had given me two books that I treasured. “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” and The Collection of Edgar Allan Poe”. The challenge of sorting through clues and suspects was tantalizing. There were always the questions of what I might have missed, what I perceived as a clue might be a red herring, and was the old man/woman in the spooky run down house a viable suspect? I loved Nancy Drew mysteries. They were easy to solve. But the Sherlock Holmes mysteries were far more interesting. Along with the different time period came the challenges of an unfamiliar culture, an environment I only knew about from social studies lessons. I got lost in Holmes’s cases.

Poe was a delightful mixture of suspense and horror. The story of his life was as disturbing as his writings. I fell in love with him. Even his poetry stirred my heart. I memorized The Raven and my 4th grade teacher was so impressed she had me recite it in front of the class. I doubt most of my fellow students got it but it did become the basis for my nickname, Peculiar Liz. I was thrilled! What could be a better choice for a Poe fan?

The most unlikely addition to this collection is “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. To this day I consider it a true American classic. The characters were so relatable to me. I had some connection with the South because my father was from Knoxville, Tennessee and I had visited there. Jem and Scout reminded me of two of my cousins. Growing up in New York City in the ‘50’s and 60’s racism was a strange concept I couldn’t understand. The book brought it to the surface and even as a 10-year old I was horrified. I think it should be required reading in all schools. It captures the essence of the time period in that part of the United States.

Think about all the books you’ve read. Which ones have remained vivid in your memory? How did they change or confirm your feelings and beliefs? Did you identify with any of the characters? Best book you’ve ever read? How about the worst book you’ve read?