Ohhh, I'm bad. I'm awful. You should all drop kick me off the Grand Canyon.
WAIT NO DON'T DO THAT! Then you'll never get to see what book totally changed my life!
Yeppers, so this is my part of the blog chain that is so very late it's shameful. There, I'm ashamed, are you happy? No? My sincerest apologies. XP
ALRIGHT WELL LET'S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD!
“Is there one particular book that changed your life? If so, why did you originally choose to read it? What impact has it had on you?”
Okay so I have a story to tell you. Gather 'round, kiddos, we're going to venture back into my past, a looooooong time ago (seven years ago in fact) when I was in fourth grade and my teacher, Mr. Barnett, was reading a book called Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis (you can see where this is going, right?). Usually I hate historical fiction but I was totally enraptured by this book. It was hilarious and sad at the same time and involved some culture from my own blood, African-Americans and jazz and Rules and Things and other stuff. I barely remember reading the book-- mostly because we had to listen to our teacher read and to be honest, I'm more of a visual learner than an audio one-- but there was one scene I will never forget.
Bud's with the Dusky Devastators and they're sitting around the table, with everyone talking at once about random, random things and Bud's sitting and laughing and trying to follow each conversation and then, for no reason at all, he starts to cry.
(This is from memory and I was like nine so please tell me if I got something wrong. :P )
I loved this scene because, for one, Bud stressed many times earlier in the book that he couldn't cry any tears and he didn't know why. You had this feeling he'd be proven wrong later but it was assumed that you only cry at sad things, you know? But when Bud cried-- and he felt humiliated and people noticed and hugged him (strangers, he just met!)-- he was realizing that this was what it was like to have a family. A real one, with people who talk over each other and interrupt and laugh and laugh and sing sometimes and it was kind of a really powerful scene, the only one I really remember from the entire book.
Another reason this scene seriously impacted me was how real it was. I've never actually quite felt this way but I think I've gotten close once or twice, so overcome with gratitude that I cry for... well, not for no reason, but it was pretty random don't you think? Sweet. But random.
So anyway, this is the scene in the book that changed my life. I could see the serious family connection in that one scene and although my family's not like that (like... at all...) I use it as a basis for a "perfect" family, or at least, how a family should feel. And I appreciate, too, what I have because this book is just chock full of how Bud braces himself for the worst of the world and ends up getting the best.
So TA-DA, that's my story, hope you enjoyed. XD Here's a list of everyone else in the blog chain, so feel free to check them out!
January 5th – http://fida-islaih.blogspot.co.uk – Muslim Spirit by Fida
January 6th – http://theteenagewriter.wordpress.com – The Teenage Writer
January 7th – http://missalexandrinabrant.wordpress.com – Miss Alexandrina
January 8th – http://cinderscoria.blogspot.co.uk – Between The Lines
January 9th – http://avonsbabbles.wordpress.com – Avon’s Babbles
January 10th – http://www.nonconformistwriter.blogspot.co.uk – Life.
January 11th – http://weirdalocity.wordpress.com – Inside The Junk Drawer
January 12th – http://notebooksisters.blogspot.co.uk – Notebook Sisters
January 13th – http://musingsfromnevillesnavel.wordpress.com – Musings From Neville’s Navel
January 14th – http://theloonyteenwriter.wordpress.com – The Loony Teen Writer
January 15th – http://mirrormadeofwords.wordpress.com – A Mirror Made Of Words
January 16th – http://epistolarygirl.wordpress.com – Epistolary Girl
January 17th – http://www.inklinedwriters.blogspot.co.uk – Inklined
January 18th – http://zarahoffman.tumblr.com – Zara Hoffman’s Blog
January 19th – http://sydneyjoto.wordpress.com – SydneyJoTo
January 20th – http://realityisimaginary.blogspot.com – Reality Is Imaginary
January 21st – http://thelittleenginethatcouldnt.wordpress.com – The Little Engine That Couldn’t
January 22nd – http://www.katrinakennedy3.wordpress.com – Writers Response
January 23rd – http://incessantdroningofaboredwriter.wordpress.com – John Hansen Writes
January 24th – http://miriamjoywrites.wordpress.com – Miriam Joy Writes
January 25th – http://teenscanwritetoo.wordpress.com – Teens Can Write, Too! (We’ll announce the topic for next month’s chain)
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You're not the only one who has been late -- it seems there's been some confusion about dates, though I did my best to ensure everyone got what they expected! :D
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of that one, either -- all you people with original books, it's brilliant: I was expecting a flurry of the same childhood favourites. But I know what you mean about one scene that sticks with you for far longer than the rest of the book.
Oh, I love *Bud, Not Buddy*. It's always stuck in my mind for the great characters and voice. I always loved the way he had to keep correcting people about his name. I identify! ;) No one can spell my name right, for some reason.
ReplyDeleteLiked your post! I'm stopping by from the TCWT chain.