This post has far more to do with life than death. It is about achieving potential and having the power to dream. I have a rather wonderful niece and the conversations are turning towards which secondary (i.e. senior) school will suit her best (no, this isn't a school's question, bear with...). She loves reading, has an incredible imagination and an independence of spirit all of which is quite inspiring. So, as a throw away comment over dinner, I said that I would love to buy her three books to give her on the first day of senior school that would inspire her to greatness - or at least encourage her to do her best! One that came to mind was Caitlin Moran's "How to be a woman" (to quote: "Its a good time to be a woman: we have the vote and the Pill and we haven't been burnt as witches since 1727..."). JK Rowling would be another (since all Harry Potter books have already been read, revised and all facts mentally filed away! JKR is a huge role model already). Not sure of the third. I feel it should be - for the purposes of this exercise - a female author. Any suggestions?
NB: As always photo bears no connection to the words - I visited Lyme Regis recently and this caught my eye...
That's a huge question! What about balancing out your choices by something older. I was thinking of Little Woman by Louisa M. Alcott. Jo March in that is inspirational in that she is not afraid to be herself i.e. individual and different from the overwhelming pressure to be a conventional woman. She is also feisty, confident and occasionally difficult. Would that fit the bill? The fact that, at my ripe old age, I remember having read it at about the same age as your niece must say something about its inspirational qualities. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteGood suggestion - I hadn't thought of the classics - my mind was focused on the present, but that would be a good choice. It is a question that's provided a lot of debate here. Actually, just thinking aloud, I should look up "inspiration books for teenagers" - there is probably a list - although that does take the fun out of the question!
DeleteMeant to say Little Women - not Little Woman, sorry. You probably realised that already!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/feb/03/100-best-novels-little-women-louisa-may-alcott
ReplyDeleteExcellent review today in the Guardian I am going to re-read it - never to old to be inspired!