The following are books that have had a significant impact on me in terms of how I view the world. As in major paradigm shifts for my perception. (There are tons more that affected me, but I'm talking about HUGE shifts in thinking after I read these). These are just the first times I read them. Some I didn't fuly understand till I re-read them later--but I always knew they were important to me.
Again, all of these were very important to me and came into my life in what seems to be very specific times (when I needed the lessons they had to teach me).
These are in chronological order to the best of my recollection
3 years old:
_Seven Chinese Brothers_ by Margaret Mahy and Jean and Mou-Sien Tseng.
The first book I ever read completely on my own with full comprehension. This taught me the value of teamwork, and that just because one does not have a certain skill doesn't mean that the skills they do have aren't valuble.
5 years old:
_Harold and the Purple Crayon_ by Crockett Johnson
This book taught me that to escape my own world, I just needed to draw what I wanted.
7 years old:
_Amazing Spiderman_ comic book reprint of his first appearance in Marvel comics.
Still a great lesson: with great power comes great responsibility.
8 years old:
_The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes_ by Arthur Conan Doyle
This collection of short stories opened my eyes up to the powers observation.
9 years old:
The Book of Ecclesiastes in _The Bible_ by God.
This was the only book I could relate to on any level for many years until I had some more life experience. I think this was because it taught me the nature of patience and the nature of paradox as opposed to contradiction.
_The Silver Chair_ by C.S. Lewis
I traded a cheese sandwhich at elementary school for this book and still feel I got the best end of the bargain. This was the first time alternate dimensions were made real to me, and that personally, I was fed more with words than with food.
_Anthem_ by Ayn Rand
Not uncoincidentally, I think, I read this about the same time I saw _Logan's Run_. This novella taught me about the dangers of conformity.
11 years old:
_The Screwtape Letters_ by C.S. Lewis
More than any other book I'd read, this book explained the concept s of good and evil and suffering to me.
12 years old:
_The Foundation series_ by Isaac Asimov.
While some of the characters are flat, the sheer expanse of this series taught me that individual actions can have large consequences.
The _Master of Kung Fu_ Marvel comic book series by Doug Moench(with Paul Gulacy and Mike Zeck)
This series taught me Eastern Philosophy and by extension Western philosophy, and about how dicey the whole concept of ownership is.
And the big one for me--the Journey IS the goal.
The _Lord of the Rings_ (and _The Hobbit_) by J. R. R. Tolkein
This series taught me that fantasy is sometimes more believable and true than history.
The _Howard the Duck_ comic book series by Steve Gerber and Gene Colan
This series taught me two very important lessons: 1) Life is very absurd and 2) actions have consequences.
14 years old:
_Amphigorey Too_ by Edward Gorey
My first introduction to his wonderful line work and how one can be morbid, gross, death fixated and STILL funny and enjoy life at the same time.
16 years old:
The Book of John in _The Bible_ by God
This New Testament book influenced me the most when I read only what Jesus said and realized it was so similar to what Buddha said. Also it was the first time I read the work as a literary text and saw how beautiful the language was in some passages. Poetry in the right translations.
20 years old:
_The Saga of the Swamp Thing_ comic #21 by Alan Moore.
This taught me the differences of reality and perceptions of one's own reality.
_The Portable Jung_ by C.G. Jung
When I finished this collection of his essays, I felt like I wasn't alone for the first time in my life. Especially when dealing with the collective unconscious and what's termed "supernatural".
21 years old:
_Watchmen_ Alan Moore and David Gibbons
This graphic novel taught me the dangers of vigilantism, and that sometimes the end doesn't justify the means. Also how to use words as transitions in visuals for time and place changes (yeah, I know it's been done all the time in comics and film, but this was the first time I noticed it, and HOW it was done, which was an important breakthrough for me.)
_The Dark Knight Returns_ by Frank Miller
Another lesson in what one individual can do to make major changes in the world.
_Illusions_ by Richard Bach
This taught me that "The surest way to avoid responsibility is to say 'I've got responsibilities. It also has done more than any other book I've read to get me to loosen up. I've read it more than one hundred times and have gotten something different (and worthwhile) out of it everytime.
23 years old:
_Love is Hell_ a collection of his comic strips by Matt Groening
Even though I was in a serious relationship at the time, I felt these cartoons hit the mark as far as the whole Love thingie goes.
26 years old:
_The Sandman_ comic book issue #6 by Neil Gaiman
The first time I'd truly been terrified by possibilities.
28 years old:
_Shadowland_ by Peter Straub
This novel taught me that the perception of reality can be altered with just words, and that there is magic and there is MAGIC.
29 years old:
The _Foolkiller_ maxiseries comicbook by Steve Gerber
This series taught me the conflicts inherent in wanting to do the right thing, and how anger can be used as a postive force for change over a destructive force for annihilation. Also, that effort matters more than end product when in the process of that effort.
30 years old:
_Comics and Sequential Art_ by Will Eisner
This book opened my eyes to how stories are told not only in comics, but in film and books as well.
_Graphic Storytelling_ by Will Eisner
My first introduction to the mythic aspects of stories.
_The Power of Myth_ by Joseph Campbell
And the confirmation of almost everything I've felt was true but could never get across to anyone.
_Understanding Comics_ by Scott McCloud
An eye opener in terms of iconic characters and why they're important.
_Nasty People_ by Jay Carter
A big eye opener. This book first helped me to realize that some some assholeish behavior--is because some people are assholes. (Yah, I know that sound obvious, but it wasn't to me till I read this.)
33 years old:
_The Books of Magic_ by Neil Gaiman
For one exchange mainly. TIM:"What's your name?" PHANTOM STRANGER "Never ask for someone's name, ask rather how they should like to be called."
_Translations_ a play by Brian Friel
This play taught me how essence is contained in the naming of things, and how Gaelic is one of the most important languages for performing this kind of magic. It's done in English too, but not nearly as well.
36 years old:
_Dancing With Intimacy_ by Harriet Lerner
A gigantic eye-opener as to how much of my life was being sucked up by helping people without taking care of myself.
The _Strangers in Paradise_ comic book series #45 by Terry Moore
this taught me that one's life should not be decided by trying to figure out whose sidekick one wants to be.
_Bird by Bird_ by Ann Lamott
Probably the best book on writing I've come across. Especially the part about radio station KFKD (Okay, you're Fucked) that damn critical internal voice that prevents creations.
_The Artists Way_ by Julia Cameron
One of the best books on the creative process I've read. Especially the part about nurturing my inner artist and dealing with crazymakers.
posted by filmcoopblog @ 10/10/2002 10:41:00 PM
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