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The book I remember really enjoying when I was young is a book called Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne, the creator of Winnie the Pooh. And though that famous bear is found within the pages of this book, this is not a Pooh bear story. No, Now We Are Six is a collection of verses for children, written by Milne.
I remember loving the music of the verses, how the words flowed. I think it is partly because of this book that I developed a liking for reading, and an appreciation for poetry in particular. I remember even taking this book to school with me.
Now We Are Six was published in 1927, and the author is very well known for his Hundred Acre Wood creation, but all of that didn't mean much to me; this book, and the poetry inside, was mine, all mine.
For that reason, A. A. Milne, I would say, might very well be the first author that changed my life.
When I was a little older, I discovered Sue Townsend's The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4. I wasn't quite as old as the hapless protagonist when I first read this young adult novel, and I think I felt a little grown up reading a book with naughty jokes, and mentions of politicians and the royal family. It was fun for younger readers, but the writer didn't talk down to her audience.
I can't help but think that, in creating a character like Adrian Mole, Sue Townsend achieved a master stroke. He is the perfect character for the young adult readership for which he was intended. True, he isn't a particularly heroic or likeable character, but he gives the reader a reason to laugh. And if the reader is navigating that unholy land of adolescence along with Adrian, they may find something within the pages to which they can relate. Though not too much hopefully.
I think the reason that Jack Kerouac's On The Road affected me so much as a teenager is that I wanted to take off on a similar trip. I still do!
The idea of taking off on the open road, and the characters and places and stories that could be found there, seemed kind of romantic and dangerous. And to find that it was based on the author's own real life experiences made it all the more appealing. I very much understood the desire to head out into the world, seeking something more than what seemed to be on offer.
From Kerouac, I sort of fell for the Lost Generation. I had a thing for the 1950's/1960's anyway, having been fascinated by Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, and that whole era of Hollywood and New York. But the beat writers were like the punks of that generation; they wrote in the voices they wanted/needed to hear. They created work that spoke to the people that weren't being spoken for on the cinema screen. And I love those writers and artists that see the unseen. I felt a bit unseen myself, maybe that had something to do with my appreciation.
As I draw this post to close, I want you to know that this list is not an exhaustive one. I could consider so many more writers to include in this piece. However, I am going to conclude this post with A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess.
I first found this novel when I was a teenager, in the school's library. And I was shocked by it and I was intrigued. It was, I think, the first book I had read that explored such adult themes in such an unflinching way. The imagery and themes were violent and graphic, and I realised that books could be a safe space to tackle those subjects that people perhaps don't like to discuss.
It was also the first book, I think, where I found a writer playing with language and words in such a way. That in itself was fascinating to me.
And so, that is my brief overview of some of the writers, and the books, that have changed my life. You can buy the books mentioned in the links below. If you enjoyed this read, you can buy me a coffee on ko-fi.com - the caffeine keeps me reading life changing books and then writing all about them here! Thank you!
Where to buy
Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne - bookshop.org
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend - bookshop.org
On The Road by Jack Kerouac - bookshop.org
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess - bookshop.org
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