May 29, 2014

Beyond the Borders

Bea Armchair

Beyond the Borders

I never know when I am going to pick up a book and find that it just takes me a step further outside my own country or time and helped me to walk in the shoes of another.  To some extent every book helps me to walk in the steps of another, as many characters have different viewpoints to my own.  However in the last couple of years a few  books that affected me powerfully were:
The Help
As I read this I realised I was growing up in another part of the world when the world that is presented in The Help was happening.  It felt very foreign to me, yet spoke deeply of prejudice not only of race, but all kind of prejudice.  It made me question my attitudes.
The Orphan Train
This was another book that opened my eyes to the hundreds of orphans carried by train across America.  It made me so aware of the vulnerability of children and their dependence on adults to truly care for them.  Once I had read the book I went online to find out more about this historical happening.
The Rosie Project
An extremely funny book, but it gave me the opportunity to look into the mind of someone who thinks in a different way, sees life differently and is socially challenged.  I grew up with a fear of people 'different' to me, I would in my anxiety shy away.  Reading about others has helped me relax. I was just thinking that today as I helped a small 5 year old autistic student into her high vision jacket as she prepared to hit the school yard to play.  I enjoyed the small interaction and felt totally comfortable.  

8 comments:

  1. The Good Earth is another great read. It takes you to a very different world. I have The Orphan Train on my TBR list. Thanks for this great list.

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  2. One of my housemates, a Sociology major, read 'The Rosie Project' and wouldn't stop raving about it! She absolutely loved it. And that was an amazing interaction. I think the importance of reading about characters from different backgrounds, with different disabilities etc, is that you are able to look through it and simply see the people, the humans! I still haven't read 'The Help' but I definitely want to check it out!
    Great post :)
    Juli @ Universe in Words

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  3. I really want to read The Orphan Train. The Rosie Project was a great look at someone who approaches life in a way that is different than most of us!

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  4. This: "Reading about others has helped me relax." That's what it did for me, too, but I didn't recognize it until I read your words. Thanks!

    Joy's Book Blog

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  5. I think you make a great point about how most books have the potential to make you walk in someone else's shoes, at least a little bit. Books are so wonderful :)

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  6. I loved getting perspective while reading The Help. It made me change my attitudes about a lot of things in my life. I need to read The Rosie Project soon. It sounds interesting.

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  7. Such wonderful recommendations. I have yet to read the Rosie Project, but it sounds phenomenal.

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  8. Love how you took a literary experience and transformed it into a real life experience! THAT is the power of books :)

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