tagged by surelymeretricious Rules: In a text post, list ten books that have stayed with you in some way. Don’t take but a few minutes, and don’t think too hard — they don’t have to be the “right” or “great” works, just the ones that have touched you. Tag ten friends, including me, so I’ll see your list. Make sure you let your friends know you’ve tagged them. Okay so I'm not just doing books that "stuck with me," but books that actively shaped the person I am today. Books that changed my life. Whoa. My Ten: 1.) I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb 2.) She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb 3.) White Oleander by Janet Fitch I found these in high school, and I learned more about depression and anger than anyone before that point had taught me, plus how and why I need to cope with it, AND generally that even when my life is royally fucked up, there are other people out there dealing with insane shit too. 4.) How to Catch a Flying Saucer by James M. Deem which taught me everything I need to know about the scientific process and how to convince people of things, and also which lead to finding... 5.) The 3 NBs of Julian Drew by James M. Deem Which was the first time I'd ever seen a children's/MG book deal first-hand with abuse and mental heath. I found this in sixth grade, and for the first time saw what it was like to have a situation even vaguely similar to my own portrayed in a way that was designed for me to connect with it. And holy fuck did I. I kept this book checked out for about three months, and kept rereading it. 6.)The Giver by Lois Lowry Dude this book was... like... as an elementary kid, finding this book? This was the first time I'd ever encountered something approaching dystopian, and it kind of rocked my world-view. 7.) The Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey This was another one that I found in middle school... it was my first foray into "adult" sci-fi/fantasy, and was an excellent introduction: brilliant female characters and an honest look at real-world issues (rape, abusive home life, bullying, for example) can hard to find in the sci-fi community, but Anne McCaffrey is a titan of the realm. So I think being introduced to her at a young and impressionable age has a lot to do with who I am and what I write nowadays. 8.) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Okay, okay, I know that sounds like "Blood Orange" levels of pretentiousness but I swear it did change part of my life, okay? Here's the thing: in 11th grade we had to watch the BBC version of this with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, which lead to me reading the book. It was THE FIRST TIME I'd ever read a classic and actually been able to appreciate its language, its social context, and it got me to reading more: the rest of Jane Austen's stuff, which lead to Thomas Hardy and Bronte sisters and Lovecraft and Doyle... it was a gateway drug, okay? At this point it isn't even my favorite Austen novel (that goes to Northanger Abbey), but it will always hold a special place in my heart for giving me the keys to the Classics. Speaking of Doyle, though... 9.) Sherlock mothafuckin' Holmes Yeah, thanks to ACD, I found the fandom that's kind of changed my life: given me an amazing set of friends, as well as a hobby that is productive and (mostly) healthy (if you don't count obsessing over BC's nosecrinkle and reading meticulous meta until the wee hours)... It still blows my mind that I've found a home in this community of people obsessed with a fandom that's over a hundred years old and doesn't involve religion or any goat sacrifices (that I know of). That's just kind of cool to me. 10.) Disco Bloodbath by James St. James If you want to understand me in high school, or who I am ten years later at my most sleep deprived, just pretend you're a teenage goth kid, read this book, and tell me it doesn't leave you in tears of laughter in some points. This book didn't change me on a deep and profound level or anything like that. But it did stick with me, and I think a lot of the way I employ sarcasm and facetiousness has a great deal to do with this book. It also helped me learn how the fuck to describe drugs to people who haven't done them, which is always handy. Oh! And bonus points for being the first book I read from the perspective of someone in the LBGT*QIA community! And now I'm tagging some people: a-cumberbatch-of-cookies, ahollowforest, surly-mermaid, dragonhideboot, lanamamamia, paunfar, 3rockstarproblem, bendingsignpost, toasterfish, snogandagrope! (I know I don't know some of you as well as I would like, but I am still curious about the books that stuck with you!)