As part of Novels That Shaped Our World, the BBC’s year-long celebration of literature, a panel of writers, curators and critics have selected 100 books that have had an impact on their lives, split into ten monthly themes. July’s theme is Coming of Age.
Emily of New Moon, by L. M. Montgomery
“Emily Starr has never known what it is to be unloved. But when her father dies, she is left in the care of her mother’s family. Emily is a stranger to the proud Murrays, none of whom think they can cope with such a heartbroken, headstrong girl. They decide to draw lots for her, and Emily is sent to live at New Moon with stern Aunt Elizabeth, the head of the clan. Kind Aunt Laura and friendly, eccentric Cousin Jimmy also live at New Moon, though, so she is not without hope.
“Emily is enchanted by New Moon, but cannot believe she will ever belong there. With her lively imagination and dreams of being a famous writer, she seems to have a talent for scandalising her family.”
Golden Child, by Claire Adam
“It’s dark now; the bats are out. Insects knock against the light on the patio and the dog sits at the gate. A boy has not returned home and a family anxiously awaits. A father steps out into the night to search for his son. As the hours turn into days, this man will learn many things. He will learn about being a father to twin boys who are in no way alike. He will learn how dangerous hopes and dreams can be. He will learn truths about Trinidad, about his family, and himself. He will question received wisdom and question his judgement. He will learn about sacrifice and the nature of love - and he will be forced to act.”
Oryx & Crake, by Margaret Atwood
“Pigs might not fly, but they are strangely altered. So, for that matter, are wolves and raccoons. A man, once named Jimmy, now calls himself Snowman and lives in a tree, wrapped in an old bed sheet. The voice of Oryx, the woman he loved, teasingly haunts him. The green-eyed children of Crake are his responsibility.”
So Long, See You Tomorrow, by William Maxwell
“In this story, a man haunted by guilt from a childhood incident recounts the events that led him to shun a friend in need. In doing so, he vividly conjures up two families, two failed marriages and the tragedy that led to murder.”
Swami and Friends, by R. K. Narayan
“The four novels collected here, all written during British rule, bring colonial India into intimate focus through the narrative gifts of this master of literary realism.”
The Country Girls, by Edna O’Brien
“Naive, reckless Kate Brady and Baba Brennan escape from their convent school and the Irish countryside to the bright lights of Dublin City, and a whirl of dances, flirtations and passionate misadventures.”
The Harry Potter series, by J. K. Rowling
These seven titles need no introduction:
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The Outsiders, by S. E. Hinton
“This novel about American teenagers from the wrong side of the tracks is a story of loyalty and affection among friends, and of their search for personal dignity and a place in the world.”
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13¾, by Sue Townsend
“Teenager Adrian writes candidly about his parents’ marital troubles, the dog, his life as a tortured poet and ‘misunderstood intellectual’. His painfully honest diary makes hilarious and compelling reading.”
The Twilight Saga, by Stephanie Meyer
This teenage paranormal romance series comprises four titles: