Reading | Photo by Jessica Fugett | The Wright State Guardian
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and while the holiday is going to be much different this year, you can still hold onto the heart of the holiday: thankfulness.
Most of us have read that one book or book series that made an impact on our lives or ignited our first love of reading or storytelling. Below some Raiders share what books have made the most impact on their lives.
‘Anne of Green Gables’
If I were to pick one book I’m thankful for, it would be ‘Anne of Green Gables’ by L. M. Montgomery.
I was a late bloomer reading this book. While I vaguely knew about this beloved book series, I never had the opportunity to read them when I was young, and it was not until I watched the Netflix TV show ‘Anne with an E’ for the first time–and fell in love with it–that it pushed me to finally pick the book up.
Stepping into that lovely world that Montgomery wrote was like going back to your childhood. Reading the book for the first time as an adult did not stop me from enjoying it at all, and I know that if I had read it as a child, I would have absolutely pretended to be Anne! I would recommend this to anyone, but especially for those who have not read it yet and need a little wholesomeness in their lives right now.
‘Harry Potter’
Senior English major Shaddia Qasem said that the books she is most thankful for are the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling.
Beyond her love for the books, she grew up watching the movies with family, and it has become a representation of quality time spent with loved ones.
“We don’t get enough of that right now, so I think back to those fond memories and miss them very much. It felt like simpler times,” said Qasem.
If you find reading as a delightful escape from reality, Qasem suggested that delving into the wizarding world is a perfect way to explore fantasy in the comfort of your home.
“Whether you read the book or listen to it on audio, you are promised an adventure like no other that will leave you wanting more, wishing magic was real and dreaming that you, too, were a wizard,” said Qasem.
‘The Waves’
Dr. Annette Oxindine, a professor of English, said she is most thankful for Virginia Woolf’s ‘The Waves’.
“The book wasn’t easy going at first, but by the time I was about a fourth of the way through, I knew I’d never feel totally alone in the world again,” said Oxindine.
According to Oxindine, she knew absolutely nothing about ‘The Waves’ when she first pulled it off the shelf in her hometown library the summer before she turned twenty. Woolf’s name was vaguely familiar, and she knew she loved the sea. So that was enough for her to pick up the book.
“I didn’t know then how important that book–or Woolf–would turn out to be in my life. I wrote my PhD dissertation on Woolf. But everything I’ve ever had to say about that book has been woefully inadequate. The fact of its very existence continues to amaze me and matters so much more than anything that can be said about it,” said Oxindine.
Oxindine confesses that not all readers are going to love this book, “but those who do love it tend to love it hard.”
“My advice to all readers is this: find the books you need, and don’t worry about what other people think about them,” said Oxidine.
