The Rats was the first 'grown up' book that I read too, followed by The Fog. They got me into reading.

Crime And Punishment and Wuthering Heights were the books which got me into 'serious' literature.

The Remains Of The Day has probably affected me the most.

Good thread:

I'd say that these had a large impact:

''Count Of Monte Cristo'' - Alexander Dumas
''The Air Conditioned Nightmare'' - Henry Miller
''The Picture Of Dorian Grey'' - Oscar Wilde
''Galapagos'' - Kurt Vonnegut

Hmm...when I read over these compared to what most have posted I feel illiterate.

^ Don't say that. Oscar Wilde rules.
*EDIT: And so does Kurt Vonnegut!
How should I feel then? ;)

Have a look at my list and cheer up.

Cool! As an Argentinean, I didn't know that.
The James Dean bit is also cool.
I'd rep you but you know...you must spread...

"A Perfect Spy", by Le Carre really woke me up to the novel as a teenager. Odd pick I guess. I've always been, and will always be a sucker for good, intelligent Cold War works.

"Ham on Rye", by Bukowski was a revelation.

In terms of Novellas... The Metamorphosis. Short stories, anything by Tolstoy and Chekov really.

No no no, nothing against the authors, I love them all, obviously because they were impressionable to me. My post, although a bit dramatic, was trying to point out that I wish I had been more diverse in my reading material, much like I am in music, but hey you have to start in the shallow end when you learn to swim right?

when i read junky that had a real impact on me. i just loved the way he described things and life, so unflinching.

also crime and punishment made an impact.

god i am not painting a very good picture of myself am i?

Well, I guess the first book to really have a big impact on me was probably Sebastien Faulks' Birdsong. I guess I was about 12 or 13 when I read it and it really made me think alot about love and sex and death and stuff in a way that most other people my age weren't.

The Outsider was a big one for me too, particularly in that it was precisely his honesty that got him condemed to death, and that gave me a lot of food for thought.

Also the Odyssey because I am a real nerd and I love the ancient Greeks, and this was the first piece of Greek literature that I read. It is fantastic and I would advise anybody and everybody to read it. It does take a bit of perseverence but it is worth it. Also the Iliad, which is better in many ways, but wasn't as life changing for me.

But I bet overall, Camus' The Fall has perhaps the most impact on me.

yes!! the odyssey was absolutely awesome. not exactly a "novel", but it can be seen that way since these days we don't have epic poems.

^^^^
what about 300??? :):(;)

It's OK, after all this thread is about books that really had an influence on you, not an account of everything you've read.
Seriously, I bet you know a lot more about music, than I for instance, and I understand perfectly the swimming comparison!

I remember high fidelity being one of the first books i really liked- connecting my music nerdism.



But beyondly-- on the road, of course. It kind of brought me back into reading after high school and introduced me to a lot of intresting things- also makes me want to leave home- but i've been a not going it seems.

I really enjoyed the crucible and huck finn in my junior english class- and i think i read the rime of the ancient mariner that year too- which was fuckin ace.

oh, i just spotted this!!!!!!!!! she's AWESOME.

(some of cortazar too but im tired oh so tired of cronopios)

"Trout Fishing In America" - Richard Brautigan
"In Watermelon Sugar" - Richard Brautigan
"The Abortion" - Richard Brautigan


"At The Mountains Of Madness" - H.P. Lovecraft (yes, I know this is technically a novella, and you can get bent, !@#$%!)

Yes, yes and YES!!!!!!!

you mean you'll get mad if i say schlocky...??













:D:D <-- i know you love those, had to add them

The Left Behind series.



psych!

How cool! Have you read her in Spanish or was it a translation?