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November 12, 2012 For Alan Shapiro, reading Lawrence Ferlinghetti's poems was like an discovering an alternate universe. A Coney Island of the Mind elevated him out of the staid world of his parents and changed his sense of self forever. Is there a book that shook your convictions? Tell us about it in the comments.

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November 7, 2012 The cult favorite 1965 novel Dune was a classic of sci-fi literature. But author Leigh Bardugo says that when she was 12, Dune wasn't just an escape — it changed her world. Has a book ever opened your eyes to an alternate reality? Tell us in the comments.

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October 31, 2012 The classic horror novel The Exorcist inspired an even creepier movie, but author Mark Danielewski says after he saw the film, it changed the book in his mind forever. Has a movie ever overtaken its literary counterpart in your imagination? Tell us in the comments.

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October 22, 2012 The hero of The Dice Man decides to live his life by chance; murder, adultery and an escape from a mental hospital ensue. Novelist Sheila Heti explains how at age 13 she also began living by the die. Has a book ever changed the way you live your life? Tell us in the comments.

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October 9, 2012 When Rebecca Harrington ran out of Jane Austen novels, she was devastated — until she discovered Austen's Juvenilia, a treasure trove of unfinished novels, stories and letters. Do you like reading unpublished work by your favorite author? Tell us in the comments.

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October 1, 2012 When she was a teen, Lois Lowry had seen the "dirty" books her classmates passed around on the playground. But A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was different. It was gritty, raw and utterly fascinating.

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September 25, 2012 Two authors, Jesmyn Ward and Jodi Picoult, explain how Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind changed their lives as teenagers.

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September 24, 2012 Elissa Schappell was 13 and in search of a delicious romance novel when she stumbled on Erica Jong's feminist call to arms, Fear of Flying. It didn't resonate with her at the time, but later she appreciated its message. Is there a book you've changed your mind about? Tell us in the comments.

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September 17, 2012 Sometimes it takes a sad story to make you feel better. When author Shani Boianjiu was young, she had an indescribable sadness. But reading The Ice Palace by Tarjei Vesaas made her feel that there were stories she could connect with. Are there sad stories you love? Tell us in the comments.

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September 10, 2012 As a teenager, author T.C. Boyle's love of all things subversive led him to Franz Kafka. He found the stories "triumphantly perverse," and he's been hooked ever since. Do you have a favorite book with dark themes? Tell us in the comments.

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