I've said it often lately, but I'll say it again... I've been reading a lot of book based blogs lately.  In doing so, I've gotten a lot of great ideas for this blog, great potential additions to be TBR pile, and a few interesting features.  I decided that I like the Booking Through Thursday feature, so I'm joining up.  Every Thursday a new book related question is posted to answer.  Knowing me, I probably won't answer the question every Thursday, but I'm going to try and stay on top of it...

Which Book Changed Your Life?

I would have to go with The Awakening by Kate Chopin.

In 10th grade I was in an American Literature/U.S. History class.  As part of our "final" we were split into groups of 3 or 4, given an American classic to read, and had to present an hour-long lecture/discussion/review of the book.  We were each told to list our Top 3 choices from a lost 25 classic works.  I dutifully listed my Top 3 choices (I think Huckleberry Finn was on the list) and didn't get any of my choices.  My English teacher pulled me aside the day we officially started our project to explain.  She told me that I had probably never heard of The Awakening but she just knew that it was the perfect book for me.  I was skeptical. A book written in 1900 about some women named Edna who I guess has an awakening?  I wanted action and adventure, but I begrudgingly accepted the book and went home to read.

Imagine my surprise when I loved every minute of it!  The characters, the struggle, the setting, the controversial ending (I won't spoil it here for those who haven't read it).  In preparing for the hour with my group, I started to really get into discussing the book.  Previous to 10th grade, I was really pretty quiet and reserved.  I didn't answer questions or speak up in class.  I had a few friends, but mostly kept to myself.  After reading the book, I started to open up.  I started expressing my opinions.  I started to get loud and crazy at times.  I started to reach out to other people.  I started to be more of the person I am today.

On a different but related note, I also found a passion.  After reading the literary criticism on the book, I began asking questions about this feminism stuff.  Why did the word come up often in the reviews?  How did an author 100 years ago relate to women of the 1970s?  I read more... and more... and more about feminism and in general about women in history.  Two years later I started college at Ball State University with a major in Secondary Education Math and a minor in Women's Studies.  When I transferred to IPFW three years later, I was overjoyed that they offered a major in Women's Studies.  I focused on women in U.S. History (I had switched my other major to Secondary Education Social Studies by that time) and women and religion.  I graduated a few years ago with two Bachelors and all because my teacher "made" me read a little, not very well-known book called The Awakening.