Michael Leask

This was one of those WordPress questions, and it was an interesting one. As I began responding to this question, I thought about the books I remembered from my childhood. Still, the question was not centred around childhood, encompassing both childhood and adulthood. Notably, the recent book that has impacted me is Stephen King’s On Writing. Simply because it has affected my writing for the better.

But how do I rate the other books that I’ve read as those that have impacted me as a top two or three? I suppose, in this instance, it is the quick response method. With no time to think about it, saying the first book that comes to mind. What are the books that have impacted me? I mentioned Stephen King above, but the next two are Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

It has been years, if not decades, since I read those books, and my opinion may change once I’ve reread them, but those two books stand out in my mind.

I forget how Ender’s Game came into my life. I remember the Scholastic Flyers and saw one of the few science fiction books in it. I remember my friend at the time, Randy, had read it and insisted that I read it. Perhaps I bought the book, tried reading it but couldn’t get into it, and passed it on to him, who endorsed it. Regardless, once I finished reading Ender’s Game, I was hooked, and when I found out there were more in the series, I needed to read each and every one of them.

I got The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings as a Christmas present from my mom. I remember reading The Hobbit and enjoying it. I got goosebumps when it was revealed that Bilbo, after all these years, had the One Ring with him the entire time! I read it before the movie trilogy came out, although the movies were set to be released. What impressed me was the way Tolkien journeyed through this wonderful world, the sacrifices, honour, and deceit characters had, and how something so small could change the world.

Ender’s Game. That was a well-put-together book. It addressed geopolitics, child bullying, leadership, and the concept of registering for childbirth. But most importantly, we survived an alien invasion. The journey is with Andrew (Ender) Wiggin, as he is selected as the most intelligent of the brightest. He must play military strategy games, and as he plays one of these games, he wins the war completely. The games were not games but real-time instructions to a fleet. As I journeyed with Ender, the twist at the end made the novel stand out that much more. All of his experiences, his traumas and depressions. It was the first book I read that featured perspectives from around the world, influencing the characters in the story. It was an open-minded and intelligent story, great science fiction and a book series that I couldn’t put down.

The importance of Ender’s Game revealed to me what it was like to embark on a literary journey and experience a twist at the end that profoundly impacted both the journey and me. I cared for the characters, and the protagonists showed how much I should care for the antagonist, too. Movies and shows can do that, but it was the first time books demonstrated that they can have such an impactful effect.

I’ve discussed Stephen King’s book On Writing many times. So far, it is the most impactful book I have read. Now that I’ve upgraded my writing, I can see the direct results of my literature thanks to this book. My writing has improved and become more publishable.

There are many books that I’ve read (usually borrowed from the library), and a small amount is memorable enough to add to my library so I can reread them. 1984 and Animal Farm by George Orwell, Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein, and Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilizations by Neil deGrasse Tyson, for example, are excellent books that I enjoy discussing with friends. However, Ender’s Game, The Lord of the Rings, and On Writing were the top three that stood out for me in this question.