Stories I’m Grateful For
It’s no surprise that as an aspiring author, I was first and foremost an avid reader and lover of stories. I was fortunate to grow up in a household surrounded by books, music, and movies, providing a steady stream of narratives that shaped my imagination.
These are some of the stories I return to again and again, the ones that made me want to write in the first place.
Anne of Green Gables — L.M. Montgomery
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read Anne Shirley’s story or watched its adaptations. There’s something so endearingly relatable about Anne as you follow her growth, her triumphs, her mistakes, and her unshakable optimism.
What I’ve always loved is that Anne is not a Mary Sue. She’s dreamy, emotional, stubborn, imaginative, and sincere. She has a romantic perception of the world and an irresistible urge to tell stories. As a young orphan, she yearns for connection with people who will love and accept her quirks, imperfections, and all. And above everything, she stays true to herself, even when others don’t understand her. That’s a lesson I still carry.
While the most recent Netflix adaptation has its merits, I’ll forever be partial to the 1985–2000 limited series. I grew up watching my grandma’s box set and still rewatch it once a year. It instilled in me a love for humor, reflection, layered characters, and, yes, a never-ending desire to find my own Gilbert Blythe and Diana Barry.
Little Women — Louisa May Alcott
It’s probably telling that every book on this list features a character devoted to writing. Just like Anne, Jo March escapes into the worlds she creates, weaving fantastical tales to entertain her family during difficult times. She challenges expectations of what a young woman “should” be, and her loyalty to her sisters is unwavering.
What I loved most about Little Women was how desperately I wanted to be part of the March family. I wanted to act out Jo’s plays in the attic, help Meg get ready for a social event, and listen to Beth play the piano. And…Amy was there too, I guess. (Petty, I know, but I will never forgive her. If you know, you know.)
The March sisters felt real. They bickered, laughed, made mistakes, faced hardships, and struggled to find their place in a world unkind to their circumstances. Perhaps most importantly, Little Women taught me that you can love a story and still be frustrated with it. As a kid, I could not accept Jo and Laurie not ending up together. They were best friends, practically soulmates in my mind. But Jo had other plans, and so did life.
I recently reread it for the first time in years, and while the hopeless romantic in me still wishes they ended up together, I better understand why they wouldn’t have worked. Jo would’ve lost herself trying to be everything Laurie needed, and Laurie wanted so desperately to belong to the March family that he allowed that longing to overpower his perception of any other possibilities. Sometimes what seems the perfect solution is what life has in store for us, and like Jo, we have to be true to what feels right, ever if it’s difficult. It’s a powerful lesson at any age.
The Lord of the Rings — J.R.R. Tolkien
I discovered Tolkien through Peter Jackson’s films, and immediately dove into the books afterward. Since my own writing leans toward fantasy, it’s no surprise that Tolkien’s work set the bar for what I hope to achieve someday — even in the smallest measure.
The sheer craftsmanship of Middle-earth is astonishing, but what stayed with me most were the relationships within the Fellowship. The bonds they formed, the ones that broke, and the perseverance each character showed even when the obstacles seemed insurmountable.
Another standout element for me was Tolkien’s portrayal of male relationships. Our heroes were brave, tender, loyal, emotionally vulnerable, and compassionate. It’s a refreshing contrast to the more toxic portrayals we so often see in media.
And yes, the entire premise of The Lord of the Rings is framed as being written by Bilbo, Frodo, and Sam, so apparently I really do love stories about writers.
Why These Stories Matter to Me
When I first drafted this list, it had dozens of books, shows, movies, and comics. All stories that were meaningful and shaped different parts of me. I even started categorizing them by genre, age range, themes…because of course I did (I love a good list). But ultimately, I narrowed it down to the three that cut to the core of who I am as a writer and a reader.
In the end, I’m grateful for these stories because they taught me to embrace the spark I kept hidden for so long. The spark that helped me get lost in my own worlds as both a child and an adult. They taught me that it’s okay to be frustrated with characters and their choices, that stories can break your heart and still be cherished, and that life, like fiction, rarely goes exactly the way we expect.
Most of all, I’m thankful for the inspiration I found in each of these works that pushes me to create characters and worlds that future readers might connect to just as deeply one day.
All referenced books, films, and adaptations are discussed under Fair Use for purposes of commentary, reflection, and literary analysis. All rights belong to their respective copyright holders.
