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Although I absolutely read other books before this, Matilda is the first book I can recall reading. I remember that I couldn’t put it down. I would walk around the house with it open, read during dinner, stay up late. My mom, who of course encouraged my reading habit, finally put her foot down when I was resting in the grocery store as we walked up and down the aisles. She didn’t want me walking into something!

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This is the first book that gave me nightmares! I was at summer camp and couldn't sleep after reading that scene with the little dinosaurs that paralyze and then eat you alive. This is proof that books are so much scarier than movies!

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I got sick with strep throat in 10th grade while at boarding school. Not only was I sick in bed, but that’s when we found out I was allergic to penicillin cause I broke out in hives, extending my stay in bed. I desperately needed something to read. I was already a King fan. I read ten of his books throughout high school, but this one stuck with me because of the circumstances around its reading. I read the whole series that week; I might have even pretended I needed another day in bed so I could finish the series but you can’t prove a thing!

By the way, I will always think of this as just those first three books despite the fact he wrote five more books. I read those other five when they came out but I don’t remember them, therefore they don’t exist. 😂

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My boyfriend at the time recommended a book. I miss heard him or wrote does the wrong thing or something cause I picked this and read it and told him “hey, I read that book you recommended.” He was like “huh, never heard of it!”

I guess it was fate then, because after this I read Atlas Shrugged, and those two books shaped my personal philosophy about what it means to be selfish, egotistical, and to have rational self-interest for years to come.

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I’ve always been a lover of science fiction. I’ve read more fantasy books than anything else, according to StoryGraph - the traitor! 🤣 - but science fiction is a close second.

Even though they weren’t the first science fiction books I read, or the ones that shaped me the most, I find myself recommending this series more than any other and using it as an example of how science fiction can shine a light on society in a unique way. It gives us the opportunity to see our flaws, problems, and challenges; and sometimes offers creative solutions.

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Patrick Rothfuss is one of those authors people love to hate because he started a book series - The Name of the Wind - and then never finished it!!!!!

In The Slow Regard of Silent Things, he takes a minor character from the book series and explores her works in more depth in this powerful novella. What I loved about this book was the language. It was never too florid or elaborate or ostentatious but the words and phrases and ideas were ones you could smell and taste and feel. They were emotive and powerful and lyric and it reminded me how a book doesn’t have to be long to be beautiful or comforting.

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Romance is not my favorite genre, although I end up reading it more than I care to admit. I prefer it partnered with another genre, which is why this one popped up in my list. A lovely blending of science fiction and romance, This is How You Lose the Time War is about two time traveling agents who are on opposing sides and start leaving each other messages that slowly develop into love. It was heart wrenching and sad and lovely and sometimes that’s what you need.

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Becky Chambers has rapidly become my favorite author. When I read the Monk and Robot series I was blown away by the world she had built. Despite my prolific reading of science fiction, it was the first book I had read where the future was presented as something better. We were using resources more efficiently and environmental friendly, we were more tolerant of differences, we had created a society in which people were cared for. Yet still, even with all that, people had challenges - because that’s human nature. I spent weeks after reading this book telling every one I could about how wonderful it was and the rosy and yet somehow realistic portrait of the future it painted. This is one of those books that I’d love to live in. ❤️