Weekly Lists #132: More Perspective-changing books

A couple of weeks back, I wrote a post about some of the books that most changed my perspective. Naturally, as is always the case for me, as soon as I hit “publish”? I thought of a gazillian more books that could have fit that perspective. So here I am, back again, with some more perspective-changing books!

(This post is not sponsored in any way or form – it does, however, contain affiliate links)

1. Good Omens, Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett

According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world’s only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner.

So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon—both of whom have lived amongst Earth’s mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle—are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture.

And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist . .

This is one of those books that you are either going to love or hate. After all, it does involve some rather liberal interpretation of sources like the Bible, witchcraft, and so on and so forth. It’s also one of the few books that’s managed to make me literally laugh out loud. So there’s that! (You can read my review of this one, or just check it out on Goodreads or Amazon*)

2. Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom

Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher or a colleague. Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, and gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it. For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly twenty years ago.

Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way, and the insights faded. Wouldn’t you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you?

Mitch Albom had that second chance. He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man’s life. Knowing he was dying of ALS – or motor neurone disease – Mitch visited Morrie in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final ‘class’: lessons in how to live.

I’ve discovered, these last couple of years, a love of semi-non-fiction books. This is one of them – and the author was basically the reason for that discovery. Mitch Albom has a way of making you look at the things you do every day in a new way. The best thing? He doesn’t do so in a patronizing way. Which, let’s be real, is kind of rare! (Review coming pretty soon – hopefully – so for now: you can check it out on Goodreads and Amazon*!)

3. The Princess Saves Herself In This One

“Ah, life- the thing that happens to us while we’re off somewhere else blowing on dandelions & wishing ourselves into the pages of our favorite fairy tales.”

A poetry collection divided into four different parts: the princess, the damsel, the queen, & you. the princess, the damsel, & the queen piece together the life of the author in three stages, while you serves as a note to the reader & all of humankind. Explores life & all of its love, loss, grief, healing, empowerment, & inspirations.

For this one, I’m just going to direct you right to my review with this one extra note: it made me read poetry again. So that’s a good thing either way! (Find it on Goodreads and Amazon*)

4. Thursday’s Children, Rumer Godden

“Thursday’s child has far to go” says the nursery rhyme, and never was the saying more apt than it was for Doone Penny, sixth and youngest child of a London greengrocer. In this fine and involving novel Rumer Godden writes of Doone’s determination against all odds to become a ballet dancer — a magical tale of fire and spirit.

Doone’s difficulties begin at home, for it is actually his pretty, talented, and spoiled sister, Crystal, on whom Ma, a onetime chorus girl, has set all her hopes and dreams of ballet glory, and on whom lessons are lavished by this family of very modest means. When Doone at the age of eight carries Crystal’s shoes to her class and first hears, sees, and accidentally participates in dance, he is struck as if by a sorcerer’s spell. But far from encouraging him, his parents are appalled — his mother because Crystal is all, and his father, of course, because ballet is “sissy.” And adding to the chorus of contempt are four bullying older brothers.

Fiercely, Doone follows unbidden in Crystal’s wake as they move from faded but loving Madame Tamara’s local classes all the way to the undreamed-of heights of the Ballet School at Queen’s Chase.

From time to time I mention on here that I like things like opera, ballet, and so on and so forth. What I usually don’t mention about that is that, at one point, I was fully obsessed with dance. And this book is the reason for that. Also, this story is incredibly well written. So there’s that. (You can find it on Goodreads or Amazon*, or read my review!)

5. Ronia the Robber’s Daughter, Astrid Lindgren

Ronia, the daughter of a robber who lives in a great fortress in an enchanted wood, causes mayhem by befriending the son of her father’s sworn enemy. Together Ronia and Birk explore the magical forest, until one day they find they might actually have to survive in it.

Astrid Lindgren as an author basically determined my childhood, maybe even more so than J.K. Rowling did. This book in particular is one that never failed to make me that particular kind of “happysad” that sometimes I need a book to give me. The story, while seemingly simple, offers some lessons that I still carry with me. That may sound incredibly pretentious, but there you have it 🙂 (Find it on Goodreads and Amazon*!)

So, there you have it, that’s 5 more of the books that completely changed my perspective. What books did that for you? Be sure to let me know below!

-Saar