Books that Shaped Me

Beauty by Robin McKinley

Cover of the book Beauty by Robin McKinley, it's a rose with green vines in the background

Beauty is a retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story. It sticks pretty close to the original but expounds on specific ideas the original short folktale cannot get into.

I first ready Beauty when I was 15. I was institionalized for being suicidal. I couldn't talk with anyone outside of the hospital until I earned enough points by "being good" and Beauty was my lifeline. It was the only book I brought with me and I read it over and over again.

Since then, I've reread it almost every year since. I learn something new about it and myself each time.



Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

 Cover of the book Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, it's scarecrow with the moving castle in the background

Howl's Moving Castle follows Sophie, a young hat maker, who is turned into an old woman by the Wicked Witch of the Waste.

I read this one in high school as well. I loved the Ghibli movie of the same name and when I found out it was based on a book I had to get my hands on it. While I still love the movie, I adore the book. This is another book I reread almost every year.

Not only does the book close so many loopholes from the movie, it's written beautifully and has a different lesson to impart on every read.


The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

Cover of the book The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley, it's the back of a woman's head with long red hair with the sea in the background.

The Winter Sea follows a writer who's trying to figure out her next book. She writes historical novels and moves to the place her novel takes place while she writes it. For this one she moves near a castle called Slains, but ends up with more than she bargained for when she starts to get flashbacks from the past that force her on another journey not of her own imagination.

This is one of those books that makes me absolutely envious. I can only hope to write as well as this book is written. I don't reread this every year but I do reread it. I love the way it's written. I love the blend of contemporary and historical. I adore the setting. This book is so atmospheric that I can't help but be swept up in it.