This might sound a bit cliche, but The Lord of the Rings was that book for me. I read it when I was 20. I’d just started my first real job, I’d started to spread my wings a little and I’d finally gotten around to reading this absolute titan of a book.
Having been a massive fan of the movies I’m surprised it took me as long as it did to read the books, but I’m so glad I waited. It was the first time In my life I’d ever felt truly lost in a world.
I’ve not had an opportunity to revisit the books since I originally read them, but one day…
Not sure what the first one was, since I’ve been reading since I was very young, but the book that transformed what reading could mean to me was Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Before that, I never knew someone could be so playful with language and meaning.