Challenge
"I Feel Infinite"
When I think about a book that changed me, I think of several different books. But one that stands out is The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Maybe it's cliché to say this book changed me; when I tell people it's one of my top 5 favorite books, they usually roll their eyes at me. But this book brings me comfort. Every time I read it, I learn something new, realize something new.
By Samantha J.2 years ago in BookClub
One Story to Rule Them All...
When I was a young boy, my only means of escape from the horrors and sheer boredom of the real world were books. I would read just about everything I could get my hands on, starting with The Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy at 5, moving on to Dune at around 7 or 8. I was 10 when I stole my older brother's copy of Lord of the Rings, a tattered, dog-eared tome containing the entirety of the trilogy in the one volume.
By Dave Rowlands2 years ago in BookClub
The Game Changer
A book that changed me? Hmm... How far back can I remember, exactly? Every time I think of an influential novel in my history of being an avid reader, I remember an earlier one that I assume has had more of an impact, mostly because something, or quite rightly someone, that I had the good grace of being gifted as a child, sparked a beautifully endless stream of events that have carried me over the course of my life.
By Sian N. Clutton2 years ago in BookClub
Alas, Babylon
"Out of death, life; an immutable truth" ― Pat Frank, Alas, Babylon Sirens blared throughout the school, and Mrs. Dixon dropped her textbook. Unlike a fire drill, my eighth-grade teacher ordered us to sit under our desks. My heart raced with the question, Is this it? The nuclear attack? Are we about to all die? If we survive, would our skin fall off? How would we eat, drink, and breathe if everything is contaminated? How would communities divided by race amidst forced desegregation pull together, or would we die?
By J. S. Wade2 years ago in BookClub
How Anthony Robbins Awakened The Giant Within Me
I love to read books by others who have faced adversity and devised their own way of dealing with it; to learn how they found the courage to get through it; about the people who inspired them in their crisis times, and the advice they might give me that could suit my situation, too. For that reason, I owe my confident and positive state to Anthony Robbins, the American author, coach and speaker who is known primarily for his seminars, and self-help books, including Unlimited Power and Awaken the Giant Within.
By Elaine Sihera2 years ago in BookClub
WONDERLAND
For my seventh birthday my parents gave me the Lewis Carroll books and I have been a Lewis Carroll fan ever since and in turn, I have been giving these books to other children of the family to enjoy, when they are on the brink of learning to read. The stories opened my mind to a myriad of possibilities, and I knew that they would do the same for them...
By TANIKA SMITH WHEATLEY2 years ago in BookClub
The Holy Bible
"With seven billion copies printed and sold, the Holy Bible is the most popular and commercially successful book in the entire history of literature. It is, in fact, a collection of books that describe the creation and history of the world, and a religious guide to spirituality, faith, and hope."
By Liam Ireland2 years ago in BookClub
Serpents of the Silverwood
In the heart of a world where starlight and twilight danced in a symphony of enchantment, there lay a forest like no other. The Silverwood, they called it, its trees adorned with leaves of silver that shimmered like moonbeams. Each step within its depths was a journey into a realm untouched by the mundane, a realm where reality merged with dreams.
By Elieca Mcken2 years ago in BookClub
A Book That Changed Me
I joined Vocal in December of 2021. About a month after a big move and bigger change in my life. What does that have to do with this book you may ask? Well, this book has been a favorite of mine for many years. A cherished relic that I reread often. My favorite writer is Ernest Hemmingway, and this was the first story of his that made me fall in love with his work. Such a simple story and so elegant. I remember reading this story and feeling like it was such an easy story to write, now I was probably like 14 when I first read this so naturally, I didn't know anything about the real world. But this story made me believe that anyone could be a writer. It felt simple in nature and was an easy story to read and follow along to. I am not attempting to take anything away from Hemmingway, he was an incredible writer throughout many forms. The story was able to convey complex themes and plots while being able to be read by the average person. This story was a point for me where I thought maybe I could write someday, not concerned with notoriety per se but to just express oneself through a hobby. I remember reading this book again during the summer of 2021 when my life was drastically changing. Terrible breakup, quit my job, moved states for an even better job, quit that job after 4 months after hating it with no backup plan. Took a chance on something I thought I might enjoy and became a successful bartender and did something for myself. I began posting stories on Vocal in December of 2021 and have continued ever since. Even when money was tight, I would never get rid of my subscription because I knew that this was my creative outlet for when I feel like writing. This singular book made me believe that anything was possible. That's why I have always kept my Vocal+ membership. Keeping a dream alive that was instilled into me from reading a book at 14. It's crazy where your life can go when you try new things and find a little bit of inspiration.
By Connor Stermer2 years ago in BookClub
The Managerial Revolution
Have you ever bought a book sight unseen in terms of knowing what it’s about before you buy it? I have that’s what happened when I bought, The Managerial Revolution: What is Happening in the World, by James Burnham in 2013. This book sat on my shelf for the next year. Not because I wasn’t interested, rather it was marinating for the right time for me to read it. But boy, would this book change my entire outlook on the world once I did read it.
By Atomic Historian2 years ago in BookClub
