*shoehorns in another book while no-one is looking*

Rebecca's World by Terry Nation.  I first read it when I was about 7 years old and it fascinated me.  I used to borrow it from the library once a month; never thought to ask for someone to buy me my own copy.  Then about two years ago I came across it again in my local library and vowed to invest in a copy.  I'm now the proud owner of an original hardback edition, as that has the most beautiful illustrations.  i think I would charge people money to look at it, never mind touch it...

My theory by A. Elk, brackets, Miss, brackets. This theory goes as follows and begins now. All brontosauruses are thin at one end, much much thicker in the middle, and then thin again at the far end. That is my theory, it is mine, and it belongs to me, and I own it, and what it is, too.

Ange's Odyssey

1. James Joyce, Ulysses
Not only is it the greatest book ever written, it was also essential in my seduction of Herofix.
(Aye, Douglas of the Firs, it was me who droned about it so much that several Gazetteers felt obliged to read it).

2. James Joyce, Dubliners
The best hours I've ever spent have been while lecturing on this. It's definitely the most fun you can have with your pants on. Immaculate short stories; immaculate narrative technique.

3. Lewis Grassic Gibbon, A Scots Quair
It made me the woman I am today: cynical, pessimistic, and disaffected. 

4. David Lodge, Small World
When I'm feeling at my most cynical, pessimistic and disaffected, I read this so I can roll on the floor laughing at academia, thus cheering myself up (momentarily). Aaahh, glorious satire.

5. J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
Because it's important to realise at an early age that you're not unique in perceiving that the world is full of phoneys.

When it comes to books that help me live my life, no way five is enough, so therefore I'm forcing in seven more that require Honourable Mentions. Rules are meant to be broken, especially when you've been silent as long as me.

Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar
An early obsession that had the effect of provoking me into a misspent life where books are far too important.

George Macdonald, The Princess and the Goblin
Read over and over again when I was a small Weasel, often while off school sick. Still a book I reach for when I'm feeling unwell. Best accompanied with strawberry flavoured milk and Rich Tea biscuits for full therapeutic effect.

George MacDonald Fraser, McAuslan in the Rough
My late father's favourite book, which we relished quoting at each other. McAuslan is a great comic creation.

Janice Galloway, The Trick is to Keep Breathing
When I first read this, I hurled it across the room, shouting 'That bitch has written my novel'. Several years and many more readings later, I told her this at a book festival, and she cackled with pleasure.

Patrick McCabe, The Butcher Boy
A wee gem. I've yet to achieve Francie's diploma though.

Alasdair Gray, Lanark
It's so good, Gray even helpfully includes an Index of Plagiarisms.

John Irving, A Prayer for Owen Meany
IT GIVES ME THE SHIVERS.

They don't help me live my life, they actually put me off creative writing for life because I realised that I didn't have 1% of the ability to produce anything like these:

1. A Prayer For Owen Meany - John Irving (said it before - "best book ever")

2. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller

3. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee

4. A Scanner Darkly - Philip K Dick

5. Tours of The Black Clock - Steve Erickson

(and no room for Harlot's Ghost!)

DMG 

I hope they cannot see / The limitless potential / Building inside of me / To murder everything / I hope they cannot see / I am the great destroyer

Phantom -- Susan Kay

The Crimson Petal and the White -- Michel Faber

The Little Prince -- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

The Wind in The Willows -- Kenneth Grahame

To Kill A Mockingbird -- Harper Lee

A Scanner Darkly - Philip K Dick

The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger

Death of a Salesman - Arthur Miller

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? - PKD

La Planete Des Singes - Pierre Boulle

I'm not really sure how a cpuple of them have helped me live my life and I'm sure I could come up with a better list at another time but I do love these books.

Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury

House Of Leaves - Mark Z Danielwski

The Great and Secret Show - Clive Barker

The Coma - Alex Garland

Illuminatus! - RAW. 

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I read this book about 2 months ago, and I'm curious as to how it helps you live your life.

There are some books I really love but I cant say they "help me live my life".

However,there are some which I like reading from time to time and they make me feel better:

one of them is"Master and Margarita"by Bulgakov(a russian writer)

another is a book of stories by Ray Bradbury(its a sweet mixture of fiction and psychology)

And finally I totally agree with another member who mentioned "Little Prince"by Saint-Exupery(some dialogues there are brilliant)....

A) it adds texture to my model of reality as having crossover points with a symbolic or narrative world, in a similar way to Alan Moore's Promethea, and Twin Peaks.

B) it seldom fails to cheer me up when I'm depressed.

C) I get to smoke cigarettes vicariously through another fictional character.

Mostly A and B, though.  A might sound a little weak, but there are only a few books, movies, songs, and other things that I return to over and over again, and that have a kind of grounding effect on me, and I'd say a few of the books I've mentioned in my lists here have that in common.

Grade School; Richard Scarrys Best World Book Ever. Helped  build a life long love of reading within me.

Jr. High; The Hobbit, JRR Tolkein.  If not my introduction to the fantastic the rope that tied me to it for life. Introduced me to a group of friends I've revisited every 2-5 years since then.

Sr. High; The World According to Garp, John Irving.  A suitable introduction to the absurdity of the 'adult' world.

20's; Didn't read in my 20's, too much good stuff on T.V.

30's; Player of Games, Iain M. Banks.  Introduced me (as far as I remember) to my favorite science fiction author (and universe) and my favorite 'straight' fiction author (same guy minus the 'M.'.)

40's; Set This House in Order, Matt Ruff.  Still working this one out.  One of the few books I can remember that made me cry. Only book I've ever re-read within a week of finishing it the first time.  TP reminds me of it in some ways, beauty from horror or some such thing.

rb

"It's not so bad as long as you can keep the fear from your mind." - D. Cooper

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer." - P. Atreides

"Whoever can see through all fear will always be safe" - L. tzu

The Golden Notebook - Doris Lessing

Jitterbug Perfume - Tom Robbins

Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula Le Guin

Cat's Eye - Margaret Atwood  

Tropic of Cancer - Henry Miller

These books don't necessarily help me live my life and they are not as "literary" as most of the books mentioned on here, but these are my top 5 that I purely enjoy -

IT by Stephen King - His 1000+ page magnum opus that delves into a nostalgic look back at childhood and how to face your fears.  Scary and heartbreaking and magical.

Lord of the Rings - The ultimate fantasy epic from Tolkien that is often imitated but never duplicated shows how even the smallest most insignificant of beings are capable of overcoming grave danger for the greater good of the world.

Harry Potter books 1-7 - JK Rowling's writing style is best described as delicious with the way she paints her fantastic world with such vivid words.  Story grows darker and darker as the books progress and can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike.

Chronicles of Narnia - Tolkiens good friend CS Lewis creates a fantasy filled with Christian allegory in a timeless tale.

Salem's Lot by Stephen King - Gory, scary small town tale about vampires the way they should be portrayed.

*I prefer to read these in the fall when the leaves are on the ground and it is cool or by a warm fire with a hot cup of black coffee in the dead of winter when you can see your breath outside

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper