I've just learned about a great opportunity to make a difference in a child's life. BlogHer and BookRenter have teamed up to get books into the hands of children in need.From blogher.com:
"From May 3-28, together we are working to make a difference in children's lives by generating new books for children who need them most - via the nonprofit organization First Book."
All you have to do is leave a comment here telling them "What book has had the greatest impact on your life?", and they'll donate a book to a child in need - up to 1,000 books.
What could be easier than that?
My answer: Anything by Judy Blume - Deenie, Blubber, Then Again Maybe I Won't, Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, etc. Judy Blume made me want to be a writer. She's the only person I've ever sent a fan letter to - and boy was I excited when she wrote back (even if it was a form letter)!
How about you? Which book has made the greatest impact in your life?
22 comments:
This is a wonderful project, Susan. I read to my two daughters as they grew up. We would go to the library every week and pick out about 14 books for the week. I read to them and later they read to me...It was wonderful. Dr. Seuss The Lorax is one of our favourites.
A wonderful gesture on the part of these organizations. One of the favorite books from my childhood is The Story of Ping, a little yellow duck living on the Yangtze River. The story is charming, but I think it's the story combined with the absolute comfort of being read to as a child which associates the good memories with this book.
Thank you Susan for this link. I'd heard Dolly Parton had a charitable organization around bringing books to kids but I have never gotten around to checking it out. This gives me the kick in the butt I need. I'll be checking out your Blogher right away.
The Outsider's by S.E. Hinton made the biggest impact on me.
Oooh I shall go over to this great site asap!! What a wonderful idea!
There are so many, many books - but for me it'll have to be S.E Hinton's The Outsiders.
:-)
p.s it's nice that the fab Judy Blume replied - form letter or not - she replied!!:-)
Take care
x
What a great program! Jane Eyre made a great impact on me, also silly as it may sound, "The Secret of the Unicorn" series.
Great idea! I'll pop on over.
Anne of Green Gables had the biggest impact on me. She was so different from me - so outgoing, willing to take risks and make mistakes. And it was okay to have a big imagination. Love her!
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman in non-fiction and The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey in fiction - it inspired my desire to be an author.
What a great idea!
God, where to start? So many books... I loved Enid Blyton growing up, Anne of Green Gables, and so many more!
Are you doing the hook line blogfest? Check out mine
http://www.mynewhitmanwrites.com/2010/05/hook-line-for-heart-to-mend-blogfest.html
thanks for popping over from Paul's...i love to read...picking just one is hard...as far as childrens books go, where the wild things are was a staple...
That's such a hard question! My answer is different depending on my mood that day. I loved Deenie by Judy Blume. Did I ever tell you she lives in Cambridge? My son's old friend lives across the street and sometimes they take care of her cat when she's away. I've been soooo tempted to stop there.
Lord of the Rings.
Good post, Susan for a very worthy cause.
Aw, thanks for the links! These are great.
I loved Judy Blume too, but I think my favorite books as a kid were Dr. Seuss. I was also VERY into the Calvin & Hobbes comics--I started reading them when I was Calvin's age!
What an amazing post! I think Pat Conroy has had the biggest impact on my writing life. Every time I read one of his books, I'm inspired. In the YA world, I think it'd have to be Laurie Halse Anderson. I love how she pushes the envelope with the formatting of her books. And the writing is incredible.
Thanks for the link, Susan! I loved the Katy Did books when I was a kid. When I fell in love with the idea of being a writer I was much older...Crescent Dragonwagon wrote a book called Homeplace. It is a beautiful picture book.
Paul - I still read aloud to my kids, and they're 10, 12, and 14. When they were younger, I did love reading Dr. Seuss to them, his books are as entertaining to the reader as they are to the listener.
Joanne - We just got a copy of the Story of Ping a few years ago, but I'd never heard of it until then. It is a wonderful story.
Lynn - I haven't heard of the Dolly Parton organization before. I love to hear about stuff like that - good for her! I recently watched the movie The Outsiders again just within the last year - it is powerful.
Old Kitty - Another Outsiders fan! What an awesome book! I really was thrilled with Judy Blume's letter, it was a huge thrill for me at the time.
Aubrie - I've never heard of The Secret of the Unicorn series, but it definitely sounds like something I would like. Can you believe I've never read Jane Eyre? I'm embarassed to admit it. :(
Jemi - I've never read Anne of Green Gables either! You guys are learning all my embarassing little secrets today!
L. Diane - Isn't it awesome to be able to pinpoint the book that inspired you to be an author? I feel the same way about Judy Blume.
Talli - I've never heard of Enid Blyton either, and I've already admitted to never having read Anne of Green Gables. I really need to start checking some classics out of the library!
Myne - Even with you and Roland reminding me, I totally thought tomorrow was the 22nd so I completely missed the blogfest. :(
Brian - Yes, Where the Wild Things Are was always one of my favorites, I just love the illustrations!
Theresa - I would totally be stalking Judy Blume if I lived near you! Taking care of her cat? How cool!
Wendy - Lord of the Rings inspired my desire to write fantasy, it's such an amazing story!
Genie - My son is a Calvin and Hobbes fanatic. He's read every book we could find - how I wish there were like twenty more!
Lisa and Laura - I have highlighted sections all through my copy of Speak where the writing was so powerful - it's truly an amazing book
Sharon - I haven't heard of your favorites, either! I feel so out of it. :( Are they English?
In the nick of time. Will hop across to the site and help give a child the gift of a new book.
Thanks for following my blog. I am following yours.
Double posting, but I had to tell you that I just hopped across to the site, and have even blogged about it. Through me, you should have earned some positive karma today :-)
Rayna - That's great news! The more people who blog about it, the more books will be donated! Thanks for coming back to let me know. :)
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