This book changed my lifeThe Goat writes, "Some books have made a huge impact on my life." It's true. It wasn't until the b3ta mods read the Flashman novels that we changed from mild-mannered computer operators into heavily-whiskered copulators, poltroons and all round bastards in a well-known cavalry regiment.
What books have changed the way you think, the way you live, or just gave you a rollicking good time?
Friendly hint: A bit of background rather than just a bunch of book titles would make your stories more readable
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chthonic, Thu 15 May 2008, 15:11)
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A Boy and His Dog'A Boy and His Dog' is a short story that appeared in Harlan Ellison's sci-fi collection 'The Beast that Shouted Love at the Heart of the World'. I checked the book out from my school library at age 11. The timing was perfect - I was just short of beginning puberty, and the story is utterly filthy: arson, rape, murder, cannabilism (sort of), and general post-apocalyptic anarchy.
I couldn't believe the book was in my school library; if there's one story you don't want a young boy reading, A Boy and His Dog would be the story. But there it was, and I read it -- several times. I recall reading the story the first time, and being absolutely boggled at the sexuality, and the way the characters lived and reacted to each other.
I can safely say that book made a huge impact on my life, opening my eyes to a range of human behavior that most young people aren't exposed to without direct, horrendous involvement. I think the end result is that I'm more even-tempered, and certainly not easily shocked!
There were other adult-themed books or stories I read during my teen years, but that one stuck with me. The 1974 film was pretty good, but not nearly as violent or depraved as the story. If you've only seen the movie, and thought it was pretty skeevy, then you owe it to yourself to hunt down the story.
(, Sat 17 May 2008, 7:47, Reply)
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