For me, it was a book called ‘The Outsiders’ by S.E Hinton. It is known as a literary classic these days, but it was quite hard hitting when it was released back in the 1960s.
In a nut shell; It is about a group of semi-impoverished greaser friends growing up in 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma, and all the life challenges they face, and how they react to prejudice against them whilst coping with family issues.
It was the first book that made me realise that some people in society don’t get it easy growing up, and I discovered what it meant to live on the ‘wrong side of town’ and what societal prejudice was. The outsiders was the first novel I read that brought up hard subjects like; domestic violence, alcoholism, street gang violence etc.
It was the first book to shatter my naive way of thinking about the world, at 13 years old! It is still one of my favourite stories to this day, and for all its slightly dark themes, I love the compassionate friendship and brotherhood that is displayed in this book!
The Once And Future King by T H White. The transitions between animals to teach the various versions of political spectrums has stood with my me for 40+ years. Obviously liked the geese…
Yes, great book.
But I remember the animals teaching being in The Book of Merlin, which was a separate volume from The One and Future King. Am I remembering wrong?
No, and yes! My copy in the 80’s had it all together.
A final part called The Book of Merlyn (written 1941, published 1977) was published separately following White’s death. It chronicles Arthur’s final lessons from Merlyn before his death, although some parts of it were incorporated into the final editions of the previous books, mostly The Sword in the Stone, after White became aware that the compiled text of The Once and Future King would not include his final volume.
But now I have to go back and find my old copy. I had no idea it was separate!
Not particularly religious, but I loved the depiction of God in The Sword and the Stone section
Yes!! I don’t see this book mentioned much, but that was such a beautiful book. Love it.
I reread it a while ago and was just blown away by its beautiful language. Now, they don’t want you to write above an 8th grade level. I’m glad he wrote it before dunbing down became a thing.