Wednesday weekly blogging challenge Hosted by Long and Short Reviews.

Today’s topic is: Books that Influenced My Life

This is going to be tough as I literally just made a post yesterday about the books that influenced my life yesterday on TTT😁 well it was mostly books that influenced my childhood and helped shaped me! You can check that out here TOP TEN TUESDAY

To be fair though, I’ve read quite a number of books in my adult life and I’m sure I can come up with a list of few ones that influenced my adulthood since I’ve done my childhood version yesterday😁 be sure to check that out!

Why I’m deciding to go the adult way/version?

Well, any time i see topics about “books that changed your life or influenced your life” The replies and the comments always read like a highschool mandatory reading list😁. these books, while great, are read at a time when people are still very emotional, impressionable, and malleable.

Today I’ve decided go the other way and talk about books that changed, rocked me, or devastated me as an adult; at a time when I’ve had a good number of years to have myself and the world around me figured out.

(I’m still figuring myself and the world out as it’s a continuous process but I’m sure you get the gist😁)

So here we go….

1. The Stone Diaries

The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields changed my life for this simple reason. It’s a fictional biography of a woman, Daisy Goodwill Flett. At the end of the book, after her death, Shields makes the statement that she lived her entire life without ever hearing the words “I love you, Daisy.”

Although I am not really really verbal about my feelings and professing them in my romantic relationships or to grown people in general 😁🙈 (I’m weird I know) But I’ve always said I love you to my little ones (nieces and nephews) daily that I loved them, but I never used individual name until I read this book. It makes a huge difference.

If you don’t do that to your significant other and love ones in general, you should consider starting today! It feels more meaningful that way.

2. The Unbearable Lightness Of Being

The Unbearable Lightness of Being is one of the most interesting and thought-provoking books I’ve ever read, and made me think about relationships, society, and the self in ways I never had before.

You probably should give it a go

3. Dance Dance Dance

I’m getting close to 30! Yep! Crossed mid-20s already and I would definitely not say I’ve got the world figured out in any way. Reading Dance Dance Dance made me realise it’s ok to be alone, that I don’t have to be ashamed or embarrassed about being introverted and isolated.

4. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf.

Aside from recognizing that her technique in that book is hella bonkers, yes! I said it! reading it as an adult has helped me empathize with a lot of different people, which is a marked change from the heroic-protagonist stuff of my youth… And it’s encouraged me to seek out the sublime in everyday, while learning to accept my own failures, mediocrities, and insecurities in a healthy way.

5. The Art Of Happiness: A Handbook For Living

 The Dalai Lama experienced so much suffering yet he seems to always have a smile on his face. Learn from this Eastern philosopher on his thoughts on how to pursue happiness in your own life.

When life becomes too complicated and we feel overwhelmed, it’s often useful just to stand back and remind ourselves of our overall purpose, our overall goal. When faced with a feeling of stagnation and confusion, it may be helpful to take an hour, an afternoon, or even several days to simply reflect on what it is that will truly bring us happiness, and then reset our priorities on the basis of that. This can put our life back in proper context, allow a fresh perspective, and enable us to see which direction to take.”

6. Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

One of the most fascinating and thought provoking books I’ve ever read. I love learning about the origins of the human species and the remarkable events surrounding our “rise to the top.” I also think that when we look at the subject of personal development against the backdrop of evolutionary biology, it can give us a better understanding of how to work with our hardwired brains, rather than against them.

7. The Alchemist

This is one of those timeless stories whose life lessons will stay with you forever. It resonated with me on such a deep level the first time I read it. To this day, it still gives me goosebumps when I reread this magical fable.

8. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov is still maybe the most gut wrenching and emotional book I’ve ever read, and also one of the most virtuosically written.

This is the tale from the point of view of a pedophile: Humbert Humbert (crazy name, if you ask me). As a child, Humbert was never able to consummate his relationship to Annamarie before she died; as an adult, he is uncomfortably interested in little girls, whom he calls “nymphets”. He journeys from Europe to America, and there, he meets Dolores Haze, the girl he calls “Lolita”.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that made me repulsed and awestruck simultaneously. I am repulsed because of the actions of Humbert; I am awestruck because of the beautiful language.

9. The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck

Don’t let the title fool you, it’s actually a really insightful read. Main idea of the book is that you need to decide what is truly important to you and stop giving your precious energy and time to everything that isn’t.

Life is simple unless you make it difficult. There are many things in life you don’t need to pay attention to and this book shows you how to do it.

10. The Power Of Now by ECKHART TOLLE

You are a miracle. You already have everything you need. You already are everything you want to be and this book will show you how to fight your ego to become more content and present.

This book brought me back to reality and the joy and acceptance of living in the ‘now

Click here to read everyone else’s replies to this week’s question. The image below is the list of upcoming prompts for this blog hop.