The 10 books that changed us (and still do)

Accepting death as part of life, that growing up is painful, and that love is often what saves us are just a few of the lessons these stories bring, through tears and laughter. For those of you who have been lucky enough to read these gems, this is a chance to rediscover them. For those of you who have yet to encounter some of these books, here are the powerful lessons they offer.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" is a classic 1960 novel by American writer Harper Lee. It is a coming-of-age story set in Alabama during the Great Depression. The plot follows a young girl named Scout, as her lawyer father, Atticus, defends a Black man who is falsely accused of a crime.

The book has many powerful lessons, and moral courage is key. The story shows how racism and unfair judgment can hurt innocent people. The mockingbird is the symbol of innocence, since Atticus teaches his children that they must never kill one because these birds don’t harm anyone; they only make beautiful music.

"The Catcher in the Rye" is a 1951 novel by American writer J.D. Salinger. It follows Holden Caulfield, a troubled 16-year-old who is expelled from boarding school just before the Christmas holidays. During this time, he wanders the streets of New York alone, searching for a real connection as he deals with growing up.

The core message centers on how teenagers really think, through everyday slang, while reflecting on the adult world, which Holden considers full of "phonies" who fake it to fit in. The angst of feeling lonely and like an outsider is central. Holden also wants to protect the innocence of children and imagines being the "catcher in the rye" who saves children from falling off a cliff while they play in a rye field.

"The Outsiders" is a 1967 novel by American author S.E. Hinton that defined the young adult (YA) literary genre. It is a story about a group of teens divided by class. It follows two different groups: the "Greasers" (poor kids) and the "Socs" (rich kids) living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, during the 1960s.

The plot centers around Ponyboy Curtis, who is 14 years old and discovers that people are much more than their social labels. The story is an iconic representation of the raw emotional challenges, social divides, and search for identity that occurs during adolescence.

"1984" is a 1949 dystopian novel by English writer George Orwell. It is set in a totalitarian regime where the Party is led by the omnipresent figure known as Big Brother, who exercises extreme control over everyday life, including "thoughtcrime" (questioning those in power is already a crime) and "newspeak" (the destruction of old words so rebellious ideas are impossible).

It remains one of the most important novels of human history. It is a horrifying warning about what happens when a government has too much power, including control of truth, language, and even privacy. Its message is considered by many a crucial reminder to stay vigilant and protect our personal freedoms.

"Animal Farm" is another novel written by British author George Orwell in 1945. It is an allegorical novella that puts farm animals center stage, as they seek to overthrow their tyrannical human farmer. The aim was to create an equal society, but the revolution ended up being betrayed by the pigs that led a dictatorship as ruthless as the humans'.

It is a satire of the 1917 Russian Revolution, alongside the rise of Stalinism in the Soviet Union. Each animal represents different leaders and groups, such as the Pigs who signify Stalin and Trotsky, the loyal, hard-working Horse who symbolizes the working class, and Mr. Jones, who represents the dethroned monarch, Tsar Nicholas Romanov II.

"The Great Gatsby" is a 1925 novel by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald. It is set in the 1920s in New York, and it's told by Nick Carraway, who moves next door to an intriguing, newly rich man named Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is completely obsessed with reclaiming his long-lost love, Daisy Buchanan, who is trapped in a marriage to Tom, by throwing lavish parties to win her back; this pursuit ends in betrayal and death.

Throughout the story, themes such as love and greed are explored, exposing the dark side of the Roaring Twenties and the pursuit of wealth. To this day, it remains a warning that the limitless desire for money can corrupt even our deepest dreams.

"Pride and Prejudice" is a novel first published in 1813 by British author Jane Austen. This romantic story follows sharp Elizabeth Bennet and wealthy, quiet Mr. Darcy. Each of them must overcome their personal flaws of pride and prejudice to stand a chance at falling in love and getting married.

It has become a cultural touchstone by showcasing something that affects us all: how people misjudge others based on first impressions, wealth, and social status. As each character faces family drama, social rules, and personal mistakes, they learn to look past their flaws to find true love.

"Little Women" is a novel by American writer Louisa May Alcott, originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869. Set in the 1860s in Massachusetts during the Civil War, it follows the lives of four sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March, as they learn about love, loss, poverty, and the importance of family.

It’s considered a timeless coming-of-age classic because, for many readers, it is a realistic portrayal of what growing up is about. The March sisters are far from perfect, and each one makes mistakes that they then learn from. It is also a foundational text on female ambition, giving a voice to young women and showing that their daily lives, feelings, and dreams matter too.

"Jane Eyre" is a classic 1847 novel by British author Charlotte Brontë, written under the pen name Currer Bell. This story centers on an orphan named Jane and her experiences. The school she goes to is harsh, and she faces a cruel childhood. Later on, she begins to work as a governess (teacher) at a mysterious estate known as "Thornfield Hall", where she falls in love with her moody boss, Mr. Rochester.

This story revolutionized literature as it is the first novel to focus on the moral and spiritual growth of a young woman who wasn’t rich, passive, or traditionally beautiful. The main character, Jane, finds purpose in becoming a governess after all the hardships she endured and fights for her dignity and independence, refusing to settle for anyone who doesn’t see her as an equal, prioritizing herself over love.

"Charlotte’s Web" is a 1952 children’s novel by American author E.B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams. It tells the story of a sweet pig named Wilbur who is saved from slaughter and befriends clever Charlotte, a spider who writes words in her web to save his life. In doing so, this book explores universal themes such as friendship, loyalty, and the inevitable cycle of life.

It is a timeless masterpiece that stands out for its simple prose, offering deep lessons about life and loss, including how simple acts can save the world, and Charlotte's words show how the way we speak about others matters. Wilbur once asked Charlotte why she did all of this for him, and she replied: "By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a bit of that."

LINGUISTIC JOURNEY

Check Out These 10 Words You Probably Didn't Know Came From Arabic!

Image: Sincerely Media

Arabic may seem a world apart from English, but you may be surprised to learn that many of the words you use every day have Arabic roots! While English is spoken by over 1.4 billion people worldwide, our language has been in contact with many others throughout history. This interesting past has helped enrich its vocabulary in ways you wouldn't imagine.

Today, we’re sharing 10 English words you probably didn't know come from Arabic!

Image: MARIOLA GROBELSKA

Despite being among the most impressive and beautiful animals in the world, giraffes are not native to the Americas. Likewise, the word for this unique animal doesn't originate from English but from Arabic. The Arabic zarāfah can be translated as "fast-walker," a meaning probably related to the animal's extensive limbs.

Zarāfah was first adapted into Italian as giraffaand then into French as girafe. Finally, English adopted it in the 16th century, turning it into the word we use today.

But that's not all! Before the word "giraffe" was established, there was a very different expression. Archaic English used the term "camelopard," based on the belief that the giraffe was a hybrid of a camel and a leopard! Weird, right?

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While algebra can be a challenge for many of us, understanding the origin of this word may be a bit easier.

TheArabic wordal-jabrmeans "completion" or "reunion of broken parts." This word was first used in a text from 820 CEentitled Kitab al-Jabr wa-l-Muqabala ("The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing"). This text, one of the fundamental pillars of algebra, was translated into Latin around the 12th century, and the word al-jabr -with its very appropriate meaning, we have to say- passed into Latin as algebra.

Spanish, Italian, and French took the word from Latin without major modifications, and so did English when it borrowed the term.

Image: Nathan Dumlao

There's nothing like a delicious cup of coffee in the morning, right? Or in the afternoon, or even in the evening! Yes, like many Americans, we love coffee.

We have Ethiopia to thank for this beverage that enriches our days and wakes up our brains, and the Arabs for giving us the word to name it. Although coffee was discovered in the Kaffa region of Ethiopia, it was the Arabs who commercialized and distributed this delicacy to the rest of the world.

The word the Arabs had for coffee was qahwa, which originally meant "wine" or "elixir." This term evolved to kahve in Turkish and qahveh in Persian. When coffee arrived in Europe in the 16th century, the Italians called it caffè, and the Dutch koffie. Finally, it was adapted to café in Spanishand "coffee" in English.

Image: eggbank

You know what to do if life gives you lemons, but what if it gives you laymūn? Well, it'd be pretty much the same!

The lemon tree is believed to have been first cultivated in Asia. Once it reached the Middle East, the Arabs did an excellent job with its propagation in the Middle Ages.

Just like the yellow citrus fruit, the word to call italso had a big journey across continents. The Arabic laymūn, used specifically to refer to lemon, was first adapted to Old French limun and Italian limone.

Probably during the Norman conquest of England, limun was adapted to Middle Englishas lymon and then to the familiar "lemon." When Europeans arrived in America in the 15th century, they brought not only the term but also the fruit and eventually established lemon groves in different parts of the continent. Lucky us!

Image: Faran Raufi

Sugar, so common today, was once a luxury that only a few could enjoy.

As with many other products, the Arabs brought sugar from the Middle East and Asia to Europe, with their own word for it: sukkar. That term was, in turn, derived from the Sanskrit śarkarā and the Persian shakar, which can be translated as "grit" or "gravel."

Medieval Latin adapted the Arabic term to succarum, which then mutated into the Old French sucre and eventually into the English word "sugar."

At first, "sugar" referred to various sweet substances from different types of plants, and over time, it came to designate the product derived from sugarcane, i.e., the sugar we all know!

Image: Timothy Dykes

What would you say if we told you that, in ancient times, the word "alcohol" designated makeup? Well, the truth is that the Arabic term al-kuhlwas used to refer to a type of antimony powder that some groups used as an eyeliner!

Over time, al-kuhl began to expand its meaning and was used to designate any product obtained through distillation, which included spirits.

Later, when the word came in contact with Latin, it was adapted to alcohol. Through this change, the word began to refer to ethanol, the alcohol present in beverages. By the 16th century, the word was already established in English, Spanish, and other languages.

Image: Sarah Dorweiler

Magazines are still an important part of our lives, whether in digital or analog format. Surprisingly, the Arabic word that gives origin to "magazine" didn't refer to what you're probably thinking.

Makhzan referred to a storehouse or a warehouse. In the 14th century, Old French adopted it as magasin, and this word passed into English as "magazine" in the 17th century. However, its meaning was still linked to the original sense given by the Arabs.

The modern meaning of the word began to take shape in the 18th century when publications similar to today's magazines became widespread. With topics such as science, literature, philosophy, and many others, magazines came to be seen as a "storehouse of information" or a place where knowledge is kept. Poetic, don't you think?

Image: Paul Weaver

Nothing like spending a night on the sofa watching a movie and eating some tasty treats, right? Well, it seems that, back in ancient times, the Arabs did that too - without the movie part, of course.

Ṣuffaor soffah is the word the Arabs used to describe a raised platform covered with blankets, carpets, and cushions, designed for people to sit or lie on comfortably.

This word evolved into Italian as sofà and Old French as sofa. Finally, those terms were adapted to our beloved "sofa" that graces the living rooms of many Americans and people around the world.

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Hard candies, gummy bears, chocolate bars; with so many delicious options, it's impossible to pick just one! While these treats are everywhere today, there was a time when your favorite candies didn't exist, and the word we use to designate them was different from the one we know today.

Our "candy" comes from the Arabic qandi, meaning "made with sugar."When qandi encountered Latin, it evolved into candi, which then became candie in Old French.

Finally, Middle English adopted the word as "candy," originally referring to crystallized sugar. Over time, its definition expanded to reach its current meaning.

Image: Kathyryn Tripp

In the Middle Ages, people in the Middle East used mats or cushions that were thrown on the floor to sleep or rest on. The term for them was matrah, which can be translated as "something thrown down."

In the 12th century, during the Crusades, Europeans not only adopted the Arabic practice but also the word, which was incorporated into Latin as matratium. Later, the word evolved into Old French as materas.

In the 14th century, the word entered Middle English as matresse, which evolved into today's "mattress."