Five fiction books that changed my life

I used to wonder how books could possibly change lives. I'd hear people talk about books that "stayed with them forever," but I had no no idea what that meant. (Surely no one was carrying around these books literally!) But it never occurred to me that this was something that could be true for me too. Not until I read these books:

5. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Normally, historical fiction isn't my thing. In fact, this book was my first time ever reading it. Needless to say, I came in with my expectations low.

But... (not to spoil anything) I left with my throat burning and tears soaking my mattress.

This was the very first book that ever made me cry. It was one of those books where you close the cover upon finishing and stare at the wall for half an hour before you are physically capable of moving.

For a solid week after, I fell into a depressive reading slump. This book taught me that words have the power to move people, if not physically, then emotionally. And I learned that firsthand!

My experience with it is what lands this book on this list, but beyond personal experience, Zusak has woven a story for the ages. One that lingers and lasts well past the time you close the cover for the first time.

I haven't read this book in nearly five years, but I remember Liesel (which is a testament in itself because I am terrible with names). I remember just how powerful books were to her, and I feel in many ways like her, especially after having read this book.

4. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

When I tell people I read all the Narnia books in second grade, they either think I'm crazy or that I'm some reading goddess. I assure you, I am not. I actually wish I hadn't read them that young because I couldn't fully appreciate them as the masterpieces they are.

Having reread the series countless times since, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe continues to sit close to my heart.

When you are young, many books you read have fantastical elements, but this book took fantasy and made it something I crave. In fact, I'd say this book is what made fantasy my favorite genre. The idea of creating new worlds for the sake of telling stories and stretching imaginations made me fall in love with it.

Growing up in a family with four children made me envision us as the Pevensies. It made me connect with them immediately, especially Lucy's character. There was a time when I thought I was her, a time I'd look for Narnia in closets and try to speak to animals and trees. Though I might not do that now (as much), this book has a permanent residence in my heart and every fantasy book I've read since has been compared to it as I've searched for little bits of Narnia everywhere.

3. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

This book also made me cry.

Multiple. Times.

Okay, so the truth is, I am in awe of the power of words, and if a book makes me cry, I'm probably going to love it (assuming I wasn't crying because it sucked).

This was another book outside of my comfort zone. It's a true and pure lit fic based heavily on Vuong's own life, and every bit of Little Dog's story is a beautiful kind of pain.

I knew Vuong was a poet when I went into this, but I had no idea every line would be packed with such poetic beauty. With such lines as "I miss you more than I remember you." and "To be or not to be. That is the question. A question, yes, but not a choice." this book grabbed my throat and squeezed.

With characters so different from myself, I wasn't sure I'd be able to emotionally connect to them. I thought this would be a problem because, if I don't like the characters, I struggle to like the book. But these characters had me willing to lay down my life for them by the seventh page.

This is another book that massively focuses on the power of words, as it is written to the main character's illiterate mother, and I will never get enough of this topic. This book made me write approximately one hundred poems in its honor.

2. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

It's another fantasy book and a popular one at that, but this one is popular for a reason. Imagine taking the classic heist plotline and packing it with the most chaotic found family you can possibly imagine.

My favorite part? So much modern fantasy is overwhelmed by romantic (what should be) subplots, but this book manages to balance five different romances without ever distracting from the plot. Plus, there's no spice, so the plot shines ever more!

I love books that focus on friend groups, especially found family situations where each character has a more traumatic past than the last. And the book is multi-POV (six, to be exact), so you get to see way more than if you were stuck following one character around.

I think about this book at least once per week. It's fun but it goes way deeper than you'd think, and if you read the companion novel, you know it has a both beautiful and painful ending.

If you want to dive into fantasy, but are too scared to jump to high fantasy, this might be the book for you. Kaz is everything, and this novel has made me rethink every written and real friendship since.

1. The Humans by Matt Haig

Every once in a while, you might have the pleasure of reading a book that simultaneously destroys and rebuilds your worldview.

The Humans is about an alien who is sent to Earth to destroy anyone and anything that knows that a mathematician has solved a certain hypothesis, one that could allow humans to greatly advance their society. The alien takes the shape of this human man and must destroy all evidence in order to keep humanity from advancing. However, he slowly discovers that, though messy, complex, and complicated, human life is beautiful.

This book made me fall in love with life and all its imperfections. It made me feel glad to be human, and it restored my faith in humanity. This is my favorite book of all time, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.