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Shakespeare
Books That Changed Me

Every Monday a celebrity will dissect a classic novel that influenced their life. From Sharkespeare to to the Alchemist. Is there a book that has changed you?    

Tell Nikki which book and why using the form below. The best will be published on the website and read out on air. 

Tell us which book changed your life and how 

Tell us all about your most influential book.

Disclaimer: The BBC will put up as many of your comments as possible but we cannot guarantee that all e-mails will be published. The BBC reserves the right to edit comments that are published.

Read what others have said..

Priya, Nottingham
The lovely bones by alice seabold. its the most perfect cathartic read for anybody thats grieving, it captures every phase and emotion of grief exactly. as good as any amount of professional therapy.

Ruby, Nottingham
Sold by Zara Mukhsen, Made me realise how lucky we really are. The two girls from birmingham were held in the Yamanes, forced to get married and one struggles to get back to the UK whilst the other stays for the sake of her children. True story, definitely makes you aware of how lucky you are.

Tanya Eve - Putney
Money, Sex and Compromise by Elaine Sihera I was at the end of a long relationship, desperately wanting to finish it but lacking the courage to do it. Then someone recommended that I read this book about relationships and the hidden reasons why they fail. I did and it was such a blast. For me, the three most useful chapters were the ones on confidence/self-esteem, the various ways we lose confidence without knowing and how we can build it again; the way we search in a futile way for perfection and never achieve it and the way we constantly evolve so that we are never the same a few years on from when we started a relationship. It explains why many of them go to the wall because we are virtually different people 10, 15, 20 years down the line. It totally changed my perception of life, of myself, my ability and my situation. I have not looked back from then, 3 years ago. I liked the way she wrote very simply and used her own powerful situation to demonstrate certain key things. Great writer. A must for anyone in a relationship or seeking partners.

TheBhangradr
The book that changed my life was the Bhagavad Gita. It helped me make sense of things when I was feeling down. It gave me strenth when I need it most, motivated me and moved me. It showed me what I can acheive. ANd the greatest strength you can have is to believe in yourself and then That will lead to Brahma (god) The Gita as its known as moves you so much, each and every detail makes so much sense. It is a true guide that I will always hold dear to my heart.And regardless of what race, religion you are it is useful to all It is a true beauty

Manveer Punia
Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub. This book has made me permenantely weary of old people.

Jaskirt Dhaliwal, Birmingham
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alenxandre Dumas. It didn't so much change my life as much as help me understand that even in the worst situations life threw at me, I had to have hope and belief that in myself that I would get through it. It's a fantastic classic novel of adventure and fantasty, and is pure escapism.

Kez from Bradford
I very rarely read many books. However one book that I read during my childhood and the book that had a great impact on me was "To Kill a Mocking Bird" by Harper Lee. A coming-of-age saga told through the eyes of a young girl Scout Finch as her father Atticus, a white American lawyer had to defend an African American, Tom Robbinson, in a court case. It had such an impact on me because I could relate to it in the most ironic of manners as I was going through the same prejudice in school as Tom Robbinson went through in the Novel. The story is riveting and a true classic. It opens your eyes as to how stereotypes can dictate the way we live. The best thing about this novel is that even today many people from different walks of life can relate to it. Not many novels can do that even 40 years after publication.

Raveen - Bollyborough
Life After God - Douglas Coupland A very interesting and highly ironic book, witty and the metaphors and imagery used is extremely interesting and clever

Sabina Ahmed. Somerset
The book which really moved me is by the late journalist John Diamond, called, "C..because cowards get cancer too". It is part journal,part medical inquiry. It is a every day story of cancer. From the time he heard the diagnosis to his battle with it so movingly told that once you start you cant put it down. Until the last chapters he maintains humour, wisdom and passion for telling the story. I feel this should be made compulsary reading for medical and nursing students. It tells the story from a patients points of view with great courage without looking for sympathy. A wonderful book which i have read many times.

salman, burton
a safe place by lorenzo carcaterra. it reminds me about my past i started as a weak scared individual who has grown into a strong, powerful person with a new view on the world.

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