Robin Hood ♥
I was obsessed with it when I first read it (Roger Lancelyn Green version) and remain so today ;) it has inspired so much of my creative work in so many different ways.
I loved how jovial Robin Hood was written, he was unlike any other character I’d ever read. And I loved how Maid Marian was written especially, she was such a bad ass but in many ways it was normalized in the story, which I thought was unexpected for the time it was written. This was a book that really helped me when I was struggling with my gender because it made me realize that Robin Hood and Maid Marian are both super cool, brave, and skilled, and it had nothing to do with their gender. I was associating the wrong things with it, and it was really empowering and freeing to come to that conclusion.
And of course I just loved the adventure aspect of it. I loved adventure books, especially with chases, and this one was just so exciting in so many ways, constantly having to escape getting caught. My adrenaline was always pumping.
It was also one of the first books where I was so attached to characters who died. For a personal perspective, it helped me understand and deal with emotions. For a creative perspective, it was the first time I saw how other characters could react in meaningful ways and got me interested in how I could explore and replicate the same kind of character dynamics and intense emotions.
There are so many more reasons too, I just love that book ♡
Haha I got in trouble for reading books too fast too! I always thought that was stupid… who cares if it screws up all the “predict what will happen” question, never discourage a kid from reading :P
Anyway, I loved the Giver too ;) and I love your reason