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!

  • gnosticheaven@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Idk that I had a strong enough world view when I was younger; I think it’s more that books helped to shape it, rather than being able to point to a book that changed it.

    One of the first pieces of literature I remember being truly excited by was A Midsummer Night’s Dream, because we acted it out in my 7th grade English class. I skimmed the character list and when the teacher was asking who wanted to read what part, my had SHOT up for Helena, the woman with the unrequited love for Demetrius (who had unrequited love for Hermia). I thought it was fascinating that she was just so shamelessly in love with this guy who was in love with another woman, that she would sabotage their plans because of it. I wanted to embody her character for a bit.

    I found all the relationship dynamics of that play to be fascinating - and something we the audience could explore in the safe space of the Elizabethan era comedy, where you know it will all have a happy ending. I loved that; it really made me excited about literature and the relationships between characters.