+I just came home from a wonderful vacation with friends and family in Sweden. And while there, I realized something: I used to read. Like all the time. I devoured several books a week, I have read the Harry Potter series back and forth I don't know how many times. I used to spend at least 5 nights a week at the library. Reading was my thing. Nowadays I'm happy if I read one book a year. The only thing I have really been able to read lately is George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series (also known as Game of Thrones) which must be the most horrible and amazing story ever, larger than life, really. Read it. And watch the series. And listen to it. Just - live it.
My mother reads a lot of detective stories, my sister used to read the Hamilton books and I have always loved fantasy novels: escapist novels. But when it comes to deciding the three books that have changed my life - it's a bit different. Let me show you.
1. Sophie's World
What's it about:
Sophie's World is written by Jostein Gaarder and was first published in Norway in 1991. It's a journey into the history of philosophy with young Sophie who is guided by her teacher Alberto Knox. It all starts when Sophie gets an anonymous letter with the simple but oh so complicated question: Who are you?
All of a sudden Sophie finds her self taking a class in philosophy, all the way from ancient Greece to our time, and the closer they get to the 20th century, the bigger gets the feeling that something is wrong with the world Sophie is living in.
How it changed my life:
My aunt and uncle gave me this book in 2002, but I am quite sure I had already read it by then and I had asked them for it to re-read it. I am glad I got it because I didn't actually understand it until the third time. And every time I read it I find out something more either about our history our about myself.
But yes, I was 11 when I read this the first time. I liked to read, and I am quite sure that a lot of my friends still wouldn't read this. It is a difficult book but it opened my eyes and introduced me to philosophy and all these philosopher's whose names we hear but we don't really know what they thought, do we?
This book made me question lifestyles, politics and ideas in a way that no teacher has been able to do. The book starts with a quote by Goethe:
"He who cannot draw on 3,000 years is living from hand-to-mouth"
A quote that has followed me through the years, I didn't understand it at first, and I still think a lot about it. But I do believe this book made me a lot more humble and - uh it sounds horrible to say intelligent - but maybe a bit more curious. Curious about the world and different people.
Why you should read it:
Sophie's World is a book you can read over and over and over again and you will always find something new in it. Either about the history of mankind, or about yourself. As we grow older, our perception of the world and of life changes. And this book can help you evolve in yourself and understand others.
Some trivia no one really cares about:
My classmates uncle wrote this book!!! Jostein Gaarder is my friend's uncle! How weird isn't that?!
Oh and there's a movie as well!
2. Rutiga Kokboken (The Checkered Cookbook)
What's it about:
It's pretty much as it sounds: a cookbook. With a plaid cover. But it is not just any cookbook. It is the best cookbook out there. It has everything. Seriously. Everything. Don't know how to boil an egg? It's in there. Need to find out how much rice you need to feed 47 people? Yup it's there. Promised to cook boef bourgignon for your girl friend? Don't worry it's all here. Seriously. IT HAS EVERYTHING.
How it changed my life:
I couldn't cook before. But when I was 17 I started to try things out. And we had this cookbook at home and it is a life saver. I asked for it for my 18th birthday and I got it! Living alone is not easy. Cooking alone is not easy. But this book helped me. It still helps me. And now I'm not scared of buying whole chicken, or fish or trying to cook something I never have before - it's all in there.
Some trivia no one really cares about:
My father gave this book to my mother as an engagement gift - along with some underwear.
3. The Bible
What's it about:
The word of God that's what it's about. And a lot of love. A lot of history in it there too.
How it changed my life:
I have been raised into a christian family although I have never felt that my parents have forced the religion on me, and I have been able to get myself an idea of what I think. And I have never felt so loved as I do when I am in a church or in a christian community. It was a wonderful way to grow up and I really miss that feeling. So whenever I need to feel God's love, whenever I feel lost - I go to the bible. I have it on the side of my bed, and in my phone. And my mother use to send me little verses when I am feeling down. I have also decided to wear my bible out. To write in it, to mark pages and to highlight verses I like. It is not the word in itself that is sacred but what it does to you. I always loved learning about the bible, it is still a mystery to me and it probably always will.
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