Do characters / happenings in books help you....

[annalovesbooks1983]

..with dealing with things in your own life, Has a character or an event or anything else in a book ever been a source of inspiration for you towards how you handled something in your own life?

[Dominique]

I don't think one has ever actually helped me in my own life in taking action about something or that kind of thing, but I find it cathartic to have the way I'm feeling expressed through a character or a book.

Sometimes having feelings expressed that you've never been able to communicate yourself gives you a real attachment to a book. I can't think of any particular books because I'm so forgetful, but I really like the feeling I get when I read a great line and I think "that's exactly what I think, what a beautiful way of putting it."

[neveralone]

It's so predictable, but the only book that has significantly influenced how I life my life is the Bible. There are others, like The Poisonwood Bible, that remind me of certain times in my life. I don't think characters in books are a good way to figure out how you are going to act in those circumstances in your life. It seems to me that many characters act the wrong way to hard times and then they learn from it. Maybe figuring out what NOT to do by reading books is a better way!

[neh]

I've definately felt guided/inspired/encouraged by certain female characters in novels, notably Anne Shirley, Jo March and Jane Eyre. The former two in particular have often voiced sentiments and worries that are very much my own (i guess coz they have a few similar personality traits to me) and their way of coping with things has given me a guidepost on many occassions when i have felt down and very much alone.

I think this sort of connection to your reading material and the characters therein is best described in The History Boys:

THE BEST MOMENTS IN READING, ARE WHEN YOU COME ACROSS SOMETHING - A THOUGHT, A FEELING, A WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS - THAT YOU'D THOUGHT SPECIAL, PARTICULAR TO YOU. AND HERE IT IS, SET DOWN BY SOMEONE ELSE, A PERSON YOU'VE NEVER MET, MABYE EVEN SOMEONE LONG DEAD. AND IT'S AS IF A HAND HAS COME OUT, AND TAKEN YOURS

[zeldafitzgerald]

i LOVE that quote.

[annalovesbooks1983]

What an amazing quote

[Isa]

wow, thanks for sharing that quote neh, I've felt that way so many times!

[neh]

I know, it speaks to so many of us who have ever felt that connection. I always get teary when i see/hear it.

[Bina]

That´s a really great quote and so true

[Pilleriin]

That's an amazing quote!!

Most of the books I read help or touch me in one way or another. Like the moment I finished 1984 by Orwell for the very first time, I grew up. I started to see the world in a totally different way.
I also think that reading itself changes, helps or inspires people. The fact that you are willing to let somebody's thought in your mind, changes people. I'm 100% sure that the person, who hasn't read even a one book in it's life, he/she is a different person, that she/he would have been reading books. (hope it wasn't too confusing).

[cauthoncrazy]

Neh--GREAT QUOTE. Awesome movie (only ever seen the movie)

I remember reading The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce and totally connecting with Stephen. Also in the book Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen I felt connected to those characters. I love that about books.

[neh]

Oh, oh! Letters to a Young Poet; of all things, Sister Act 2 inspired me to hunt it down when i was quite young and i've never looked back - such simple, but provocative and eloquent advice that you can apply to anything you feel passionately about.