DSC_8885%2072 2
... the other Black experience
books that changed your life.
i think i was programed from birth to adore reading. With both of my grandmothers being librarians, there was never a lack of literature in my home. As I got older and began to develop my own personal appreciation of art, I found certain novels that pushed through me, and changed who I was as a person. Although I am always searching for a new bound copy of my dreams, it seems like I always go back to the same stories. These are the books that have changed who I am. These are the stories that diagram my life, these are the novels that i can recite every word from every page, the books that are like sex and drugs and raw emotion and life.
1. THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES- RAY BRADBURY
I remember being assigned this as "Summer Reading" in the 7th grade. I spent that summer on the Eastern Shore with my father, eating oysters and roaming the desolate streets of that island. This story of man's exploration and cultivation became the basis behind the way I perceive the world. This tale of want and need, and imperialism the pain, agony and defeat that comes with starting life, and ending other. The Naming of Names.... There will Come Soft Rains... House if Usher II..... Ray Bradbury and his dark portrayal of the destructive nature of man. This book changed my life.
2. FINNEGAN'S WAKE- JAMES JOYCE
where do i begin. James Joyce, James Joyce. stream of consciousness. this book which has found its way to my bedside many of nights, always leaves me differently. there are times when the utter beauty of dreams and language, and not having to format that to prose overwhelms me. And then there are times where i anger myself at not being born int the 1920 and writing this first. Joyce has truly helped me form my style as a writer, as a dreamer as a nocturnal being. This book has changed my life.
3. CASTING STONES- HELEN CHASIN
I found this book hidden in a poetry section of my high school library. The slip in the back said it hadnt been checked out since 1992. This small, dirty book, with frayed edges and stained paper contains words that i speak everyday. The second book of poetry from this unknown women written in the 1970s, was full of rage and hate, sex and lust and fear, and complete admiration and passion and magic. She sits on the back cover, smoking in her long hair. Inside she breathes life into her strange poetry, written with no form but her own. Poems like "News" and "Perception" felt like they came directly from my heart, through my hands, and onto these pages. To this day I have yet to find another copy, mine worn and beaten from constant love and affection... I love this book. I carry this book in my purse. This book has changed my life.
4. ALICE IN WONDERLAND- CHARLES LUDWIG DODGSON
How naive we are to think that just because there's rabbits, and little girls and a tea parties, that its a children s book. Even as I read this in my youth, I absorbed the underlying currants that this tale of a little girl and her fantasy world had to offer. And then Jefferson Airplane summed it up. This book is actually kind of scary, filled with dark illusions to life in Britain circa 1800s. Charles and his all to demented mind, makes Alice a pawn in his opium induced dreams. One pill makes you bigger, and one pill makes you small.... feed you head. This book changed my life.
5. REST AREA- CLAY MCLEOD CHAPMAN
If you are from Virginia, then im sure you know of this man. I have been in love with Clay since I was in the 10th grade and i sat Indian style in front of his feet and listen to him read aloud his tales of demented love and loss. This man, dressed in a white shirt, khakis and a beard found his way into my heart through my ears. Still after watching him on various stages, set to music, close quarters, face to face, the magic and fear of his words only grows stronger. These short stories ranging in style and texture, all came together over a common good. Shock, mystery and amazement. He twist his tales and bends the lines between what is acceptable fiction and what is deranged reality. Being from Richmond, I feel like everything he writes could, will and has happened in this city. He made me change the way i look at things around me. These streets are filled with the dead and their tales. And Clay just happened to write about it. This book has changed my life.
So many others....so many others....so many others....
these books are changing my life.
1. THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES- RAY BRADBURY
I remember being assigned this as "Summer Reading" in the 7th grade. I spent that summer on the Eastern Shore with my father, eating oysters and roaming the desolate streets of that island. This story of man's exploration and cultivation became the basis behind the way I perceive the world. This tale of want and need, and imperialism the pain, agony and defeat that comes with starting life, and ending other. The Naming of Names.... There will Come Soft Rains... House if Usher II..... Ray Bradbury and his dark portrayal of the destructive nature of man. This book changed my life.
2. FINNEGAN'S WAKE- JAMES JOYCE
where do i begin. James Joyce, James Joyce. stream of consciousness. this book which has found its way to my bedside many of nights, always leaves me differently. there are times when the utter beauty of dreams and language, and not having to format that to prose overwhelms me. And then there are times where i anger myself at not being born int the 1920 and writing this first. Joyce has truly helped me form my style as a writer, as a dreamer as a nocturnal being. This book has changed my life.
3. CASTING STONES- HELEN CHASIN
I found this book hidden in a poetry section of my high school library. The slip in the back said it hadnt been checked out since 1992. This small, dirty book, with frayed edges and stained paper contains words that i speak everyday. The second book of poetry from this unknown women written in the 1970s, was full of rage and hate, sex and lust and fear, and complete admiration and passion and magic. She sits on the back cover, smoking in her long hair. Inside she breathes life into her strange poetry, written with no form but her own. Poems like "News" and "Perception" felt like they came directly from my heart, through my hands, and onto these pages. To this day I have yet to find another copy, mine worn and beaten from constant love and affection... I love this book. I carry this book in my purse. This book has changed my life.
4. ALICE IN WONDERLAND- CHARLES LUDWIG DODGSON
How naive we are to think that just because there's rabbits, and little girls and a tea parties, that its a children s book. Even as I read this in my youth, I absorbed the underlying currants that this tale of a little girl and her fantasy world had to offer. And then Jefferson Airplane summed it up. This book is actually kind of scary, filled with dark illusions to life in Britain circa 1800s. Charles and his all to demented mind, makes Alice a pawn in his opium induced dreams. One pill makes you bigger, and one pill makes you small.... feed you head. This book changed my life.
5. REST AREA- CLAY MCLEOD CHAPMAN
If you are from Virginia, then im sure you know of this man. I have been in love with Clay since I was in the 10th grade and i sat Indian style in front of his feet and listen to him read aloud his tales of demented love and loss. This man, dressed in a white shirt, khakis and a beard found his way into my heart through my ears. Still after watching him on various stages, set to music, close quarters, face to face, the magic and fear of his words only grows stronger. These short stories ranging in style and texture, all came together over a common good. Shock, mystery and amazement. He twist his tales and bends the lines between what is acceptable fiction and what is deranged reality. Being from Richmond, I feel like everything he writes could, will and has happened in this city. He made me change the way i look at things around me. These streets are filled with the dead and their tales. And Clay just happened to write about it. This book has changed my life.
So many others....so many others....so many others....
these books are changing my life.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by DanielaInfinity on
-
Books that changed my life/altered and influenced my behaviors and perceptions:
The Feminine Mystique
Borderlands: La Frontera
The Color Purple
1984
Grapes of Wrath
The Whipping Boy
Godspeed
Siddhartha
Lolita
Great Women of Film
Swimming Upstream: A Lifesaving Guide to Short Film Distribution
There are more :) but that's all I can think of, for now.
-
-
Oh, and Black Alice. Love that book
DanielaInfinity said:Books that changed my life/altered and influenced my behaviors and perceptions:
The Feminine Mystique
Borderlands: La Frontera
The Color Purple
1984
Grapes of Wrath
The Whipping Boy
Godspeed
Siddhartha
Lolita
Great Women of Film
Swimming Upstream: A Lifesaving Guide to Short Film Distribution
There are more :) but that's all I can think of, for now.
-
Permalink Reply by Madamoiselle De Sade on -
Wow. You've read some of the same things I listed. Namely, Siddartha- it's hard for me to find someone else who's read it and got something out of it. In fact, I wasn't even sure what I got out of it but I have a copy of one of the newer editions on my nightstand.
And Lolita- I voluntarily read that one. And the stage play version. And watched half of t he movie. But I think the movie only went for the "gasp! pedophilia that's somewhat "understandable" angle.
DanielaInfinity said:Books that changed my life/altered and influenced my behaviors and perceptions:
The Feminine Mystique
Borderlands: La Frontera
The Color Purple
1984
Grapes of Wrath
The Whipping Boy
Godspeed
Siddhartha
Lolita
Great Women of Film
Swimming Upstream: A Lifesaving Guide to Short Film Distribution
There are more :) but that's all I can think of, for now.
-
Permalink Reply by Aaron Mallory on -
Siddhartha
Love in the Time of Cholera
The wonderous life of Oscar WAO
and
Mother NIght
-
Permalink Reply by letinstar on -
the spook who sat by the door by sam greenlee
go ask alice by anonymous
-
Permalink Reply by geri on -
the Bible (my ultimate life changer)
crime and punishment (it's the longest novel i've ever read and enjoyed)
catcher in the rye (the first novel i read from beginning to end without wanting to put it down)
i obviously need to read more but sometimes the philosophy of an author doesn't really click with my own and i can't really even push my self to continue to read... maybe i just haven't found the right book but yeah
-
Permalink Reply by Denim Mouzon on -
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah, an ex- child soldier from Sierra Leone. This book was absolutely amazing. Heartfelt and gut-wrenching at the same time.
A short story but to me it still counts... Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin. Great story! If you're a musician it's likely you will enjoy this story. At the end it uncovers an emotion that is deeply rooted in the soul of a musician.
Enjoy!
-
Permalink Reply by BuddhistPunk Fucker on -
Sorry to get off the 'sci' fi note, however the most personally influential book I;'ve ever read, by far would have to be 'Days of War, Nights of Love'' Kind of a Beginers Anarchism Book. Quite Eye opening, really get's one looking at all aspects of life very differently than most have become accustom to.
I do love Kurt Vonnegut and Heinlein as well.
Days of War Nights of Love is now a College Fav, and you can actually download this for free, the entire book, or just the text or mp3, There is no copyright on this book, so it is completely legal as well =)
if interested in a excellent short read
www.daysofwarnightsoflove.com
-
Permalink Reply by Madamoiselle De Sade on
-
Catcher in the Rye is another one of my SOI faves. I could never put my finger on it but reading it was a creepy experience for me I could not even write about or explain in my essays.
-
Permalink Reply by Rohan Plummer on -
where to start?
1. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
i first read this book in the 8th grade and was blown away by steinbeck's commitment to imagery and detail. and how he didnt have to make a plot complex in order to keep the readers attention. simplicity is all you need
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
i couldn't be more serious...lol this book made me fall in love with the fantasy genre and books period all over again. discovered it in the 3rd grade and it was the fact that i had to wait 3 weeks to read it that made me want to read it more. totally worth it and it surprised me that i finally was able to finish up the series during my senior year of high school. what a run!
3. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
the only book that ive been re-reading for at least 8 yrs now. great book about race relations. first read it in the 5th grade. and it still captivates to this day. not the greatest book ever but it gets its point across.
thats good for now give you my top 3 lol
-
Permalink Reply by LesYpersound on -
i'm pretty sure i read siddhartha in a high school english class and revisited it after i finished hermann hesse's steppenwolf
...rosencrantz and guilderstern are dead ... a play, but still really good and fun to read.
...john gardner's grendel (esp after having been forced to read beowulf)--again, high school english.
...east of eden definitely left an impact crater on my psyche since it left me wondering if i'm a Cathy and/or Cal and/or Tom.
to be honest i think every book i've read cover to cover or even not quite finished changed my life.
We Need Your Feedback!
Dopeness
From The Community
Afro-Punk Merchandise
Irradio
Latest Activity
CaliforniaAfrican replied to X-D-D-M*9's discussion '= THE VENT!---GET IT OUT =...'
CaliforniaAfrican replied to X-D-D-M*9's discussion '= THE VENT!---GET IT OUT =...'
X-D-D-M*9 replied to anthony's discussion 'weaves vs. fros'
© 2012 Created by Matthew.
Powered by 
.
