Books That Changed Your Life

Every reader has that one book.

The one they can't stop recommending. The one that made them cry, think differently, dream bigger, or feel understood in a way they never had before. The one they still think about years after turning the final page.

In this episode of The Honest Pause, we're talking about the books that change us. From childhood favorites and unforgettable fiction to transformative nonfiction and unexpected reads that arrived at exactly the right moment, we're exploring why certain books stay with us long after we've finished them.

We discuss the power of stories, the characters who feel like friends, the lessons we carry into our own lives, and how books can challenge our perspectives, expand our empathy, and help us understand ourselves a little better.

We'll also share the books that have had the biggest impact on us, the titles we recommend over and over again, and the stories we'd love to experience for the first time all over again.

Whether you're an avid reader or someone looking for their next great book, this episode is a celebration of the stories that shape who we are.

Take a pause with us and reflect on the books that have left their mark on your life.

✨ Follow us on Instagram: @thehonestpause for episode updates, book recommendations, and behind-the-scenes content.

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🌿 Need a pause? Join our retreats.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Hey everyone, welcome to The Honest Pause. I'm Carol Rothri, actress, intuitive coach, and your co-host for Real Meaningful Conversations.

SPEAKER_03 0:09

And I'm Miriam Tyree, entrepreneur, business strategist, and your partner in navigating life's ups and downs.

SPEAKER_02 0:16

Here we talk about what happens when you hit pause, when we reflect and embrace the messy beauty of life.

SPEAKER_03 0:23

So whether you're here to reflect, recharge, or just have a good laugh, we've got you covered. Let's get started. It's on Fable. You can check it out in the link in our show notes and also on our social media. But reading and books are huge for both of us. So I want to ask you what is the first book or a book that you remember early in your life that really did change your life?

SPEAKER_02 1:17

Okay, you're gonna laugh at this, but it's all the way back to back to grade one.

SPEAKER_03 1:22

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 1:22

Dick and Jane. Hardcover book. I can still remember being in elementary school because as a kid, I would always pretend they'd be upside down, but I would pretend I could read. It's a children's book. It was like learning to read in grade one here in Canada. And I would always want to read it. I was so excited to learn how to read it. I remember getting that book that first time, and this is going back, I was like grade one and going, smelling it. Like even then, I had that thing about books and feeling. Yeah. And it was just, and the reason I'm getting so excited is I mentioned this to um a lovely woman who comes to various uh things that I do, different workshops that I do, client, and it made me cry because I ended up, she sent it, she sent me this gift in the mail. And uh she lives in the US and I opened it up and it was a copy of Dick and Jane. I'll have to dig it out the next time we do it, and we'll just show you this book. And I started crying, I was like, oh my god, because perhaps I could cry again. I could smell it, and I was back being this little kid again learning how to read, thinking this is the most magical thing in my whole life I can actually read.

unknown 2:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:37

But that is the book that stands out being the book that I learned to read.

SPEAKER_03 2:43

I love that. I think one of my there's two earlier in life books that for whatever reason I feel like really impacted me. The Diamond in the Window was a like young children's fantasy book about siblings who lived in this like old house and they had to find certain things to sort of save their house and their life. And I don't know, I just thought it was like fantasy and magical. And then um Tamara Pierce wrote a number of books, including the Alana books, and those it's like it's about a female main character, and she is a badass. And man, I reread these books this year. I read the Alana books, like all four of them this year, and I was so taken with them because she was a strong young woman, and I just I loved that, and so the books definitely changed my life very, very early on. And I think it was because I don't know, books change your perspective and they make you feel seen.

SPEAKER_02 4:00

I believe they do.

SPEAKER_03 4:02

What is a book recently that has changed your life?

SPEAKER_01 4:10

That has changed my life?

SPEAKER_02 4:13

Um again, the majority of the books that I read are are, I mean, I'm learn I'm reading all these fabulous books now through you. Thank you for opening my eyes to fantasy and all of that, which I'm loving. I love all of them. But I remember one of the books that I so loved was called The Untethered Soul. It was such a you've read that, I think, right? Haven't you? That one just yeah, I yeah, I absolutely loved that book. But um I would have to say, thanks to you, what was the first one you had me read with the fantasy? This book.

SPEAKER_03 4:48

Oh, I think I made you read We Who Will Die. Was that the first fantasy book? I made it.

SPEAKER_02 4:54

Yes, yeah, and this one back up, back up. Okay, you tell.

SPEAKER_03 4:58

Okay, but I have been I talked to Terrell about my books, and I'm like, I'm reading about this book, and there's a vampire, there's a werewolf, or there's a whatever, and she's like, I'm not gonna read this, I'm not gonna read this, that I'm not gonna get into it. And I was like, Okay, there's this new book that's all over the internet. We it's like sold out everywhere. We should read this in our book club, and you guys should read this book if you haven't, um, because it's amazing. And I'm so I make Teryl read it, and what happens? She, what does she do?

SPEAKER_02 5:33

I have to phone her. I had to pull over sobbing.

SPEAKER_00 5:38

I was like, sobbing.

SPEAKER_03 5:43

I get this voice note of her sobbing about this book, so invested. And I was like, Yes, I have won. Right? I have won.

SPEAKER_02 5:54

I have her now.

SPEAKER_03 5:56

I think I told you, I was like, I told you, I told you these books are great.

SPEAKER_02 6:00

And then I got cried almost cried again when I went, Where's the next book? What the hell? When is this coming up?

SPEAKER_03 6:06

Oh yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:09

No, I was so upset. Now I'm addicted. Then we did uh A Court of Thorn and Roses again. It's like I want to read the next one, and we just and then we're on our this other one called Um Star Side. My loves, yeah. I can say that because it's our new book. We're reading it, yeah. My god, I love that one. Who knew? You've completely corrupted me.

SPEAKER_03 6:30

I'm happy to do it.

SPEAKER_02 6:31

Oh, she's totally corrupted me, and I can't wait for all the next ones.

SPEAKER_03 6:35

I hope you will all read with us in our book club, but I hope one other thing that we're doing is reading retreats. So you can read with us. Some of them are themed. We have a couple really exciting ones coming up, so they're themed around an era or an idea or a concept, and others are bring whatever you want to read and come read with us and some other amazing women. Again, follow us on social media to stay posted on that. But we really hope that you will come and read with us. What there are a number of these for me, but are there any books that have taught you something about love?

SPEAKER_02 7:14

Hell no. And even if they did, I don't know about love. I don't like the your type of books that teach you.

SPEAKER_03 7:26

I there are for me.

SPEAKER_02 7:28

More of the series, like I like, you know, um, non-fiction. Those those teach me a lot. I love learning and I love growing. Um, what I do find with this, like this is seriously, you guys, this is like new for me. This whole phantodrop, what do you call it? What do you call it? Yeah, that thing. Romantic, it's all new, and I'm hooked. Hook, line, and sinker, those teach you a lot. There's just something about um, yeah, I just get caught up in the romance of it, and it's just how deep that love can actually go. Um, and the give and the take. And and well, yeah, all of that. What what about you? What what is the one book that stands out for you?

SPEAKER_03 8:14

If we're talking about fiction, um, there are so many fictional books that I think talk about love and yearning and wanting to be with someone and understanding someone. I mean, I will always go back to pride and prejudice. I will always go back to like thinking about our misconceptions of people and understanding people and how we think about who we want to end up with. And I don't know, for me, that's like always gonna be it. And I think if you're really like trying to get curious about your romantic life, I think as corny as it sounds, like the five love languages and attachment styles books, I would say if you don't know your attachment styles.

SPEAKER_02 8:55

The five love languages, yeah, that was a great book.

SPEAKER_03 8:58

Learn your love language and learn your attachment style. And those two things I think are pervasive, not just through romantic relationships, but also friendships and also your relationship with yourself. So I will say that I mean, there are fictional couples that I am constantly emotionally invested in. I'm emotionally invested in so many fictional couples. And there are a couple of books that are gonna be coming out later this year that I'm like, I can't wait to see what happens. Like Violet and Zaidan, what's gonna happen? And which is that where are they from? Book of the fourth wing books. We you have I don't think that yet.

SPEAKER_02 9:40

We'll have to do this.

SPEAKER_03 9:41

But there's so many other like epic people um in books that I'm like, oh, so emotionally invested. Um and there are books that make me cry. And I think books can change your life in so many ways. I mean, uh recently I reread The Nightingale, which will be turned into a movie very soon. It's about yeah, and I think the fanning sister playing The Sister, the Nightingale.

SPEAKER_02 10:11

That's gonna be brilliant.

SPEAKER_03 10:12

Um, but and there's so many things that made me think, and books constantly change my life because they make me think. There are books that make me want to travel. So have you ever read a book that has made you want to book a trip?

SPEAKER_02 10:30

Yeah, what was that fabulous book? They made a movie out of it.

SPEAKER_03 10:34

I don't know, deep prey, love. You wanted to travel because of that. Yes, I will say I I from like a fictional standpoint. There's a book called The Lost Apothecary that made me want to travel. All the Outlander books made me want to travel. Like, why wouldn't you want to go there? Um they make me want to travel to like fictional places too, of course. But books really can change our lives in so many different ways, and I think can change entire generations. Has there been, I mean, I guess you would kind of answer that this, but has there ever been a book that has really gotten you back into reading?

SPEAKER_02 11:19

What was the one that did? It might even have been that well, no, that's not true. The books that get that got me back into reading was when I started uh really getting into like the Michael Connolly's, the Patterson's, um, James Patterson books, all of that baldacci, because of my work, in between takes or in between you know setups, we read. And I found uh like heavy books I couldn't get into because then I would lose track again. But easy chapters and getting caught up in the characters because the same characters up, you know, go even though this is you know it's a different genre. But those books and Patricia Cornwell, they got me back, they got me hooked where I I couldn't stop. I just went on this tangent, just lead child. Those kind of books kept me going, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 12:08

I don't think I'm ever out of reading. I do think sometimes I get like burnt out on a specific thing and I need like a hot minute because I'll read a lot. But I will say for me, there were two series, no, three series that I had like sort of like had periods where I'd taken a step back. Dungeon Crawler Carl. I knew that was gonna come out. It's a million books, but obsessed, and Throne of Glass, also a million books, but obsessed, and Murderbot, the Murderbot books I binged, and the Emma Lion book. Okay, I gave you four series, four series that all have like eight plus books in them, but those series, I don't know, they're all a little bit different. You know, Dungeon Crawler Carl is a lit RPG book, like you're in a video game. Throne of Glass, people will argue is romantic, but I would say it's you know fantasy. Murderbot is more science fiction, it now is a show on Apple. And the Emma Lyon books are these like Victorian-era diaries of this young girl, and all of them have re-ignited a big spark in reading for me. So a couple quickies, Terrell. And this is hard. Favorite book of all time?

SPEAKER_02 13:23

Oh, that's too hard. I can't even think of one. I can't think of it. I can't think of one favorite book of all time. I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 13:32

I have too many. Of course you do.

SPEAKER_02 13:35

Well, hang on, disclaimer. Okay, just so you all know, she doesn't just read one book, she can be reading four at the same time. You're just not right.

SPEAKER_03 13:43

But I would say like a book that I have read over and over again multiple times. There's a couple, which is like I have read Dune multiple times, always an amazing book. I have read Ender's Game multiple times, always an amazing book. Fahrenheit 451, always an amazing book. The Handmaid's Tale, always an amazing book. These are like a little bit older in terms of books. Um, but like it's hard to name a a single book. Is there a book that you're gonna do? Yeah. Is there a book that you would recommend that everybody should read right now? That you're like, I'm a diehard, everybody read this book.

SPEAKER_02 14:24

Well, I think it's we who will die, like that author, yes.

SPEAKER_03 14:27

Carol, you're Carol is pretty diehard about We Who Will Die. I'm like looking at my bookshelf. I'm like, is there a book that I would want everybody to read? Oof, I think that if you haven't read Project Hail Mary, read Project Hail Mary. If you haven't read Dungeon Crawler Carl, read Dungeon Crawler Carl.

SPEAKER_02 14:46

Isn't isn't there a movie right now, Project Hail Mary?

SPEAKER_03 14:49

Yeah, it just came out.

SPEAKER_02 14:50

Yeah, did you watch it?

SPEAKER_03 14:52

Yeah, it was great.

SPEAKER_02 14:53

So it compared to the book?

SPEAKER_03 14:55

I was skeptical.

SPEAKER_02 14:56

So it compared to the book. I think I might just cheat and do that. I'll just watch that one.

SPEAKER_03 15:02

Cheat. I'm okay with that. Okay, thanks, Bob. Um, is there a book you would read again immediately?

SPEAKER_02 15:08

No. See, I was just going to say that it's one thing I cannot do. I don't do that. I've never, it's like, okay, it's done, it's fabulous. I loved it, and I want to remember it like that, and off it goes. I can't, I don't rerate.

SPEAKER_03 15:24

Do you have a favorite villain from a book?

SPEAKER_01 15:31

No.

SPEAKER_03 15:33

I am going to say that recently, because I read these books this year, the Lord Ruler from the Mistborn books.

SPEAKER_01 15:42

I don't know those things.

SPEAKER_03 15:44

Is a favorite villain. I I will just say Brandon Sanderson, Mistborn, is an amazing book, and that is a great villain.

SPEAKER_02 15:54

Okay, writing that one down too.

SPEAKER_03 15:57

Um, do you have a fic favorite fictional like bestie who you would want like this person to be your bestie?

SPEAKER_02 16:09

Um I would like what's her name from We Who Will Die? Look, and I keep going back to that that character.

SPEAKER_03 16:18

Um I always pronounce her name wrong. Yeah, weck is her name.

SPEAKER_02 16:26

Stacia Stark, stace Stacia Stark is the author. What the fuck?

SPEAKER_03 16:29

Isn't it like Orvell? Or Val, right?

SPEAKER_02 16:35

I was like Oh yes, yeah. Um I I would have her as my best friend.

SPEAKER_03 16:40

I think, man, I think I'm gonna go with like oh, this is like a hard one because I wouldn't. You like your fourth wing ones, yeah. I would probably pick Cassian, maybe from like A Quarter Thorn and Roses because like I need a little bit of like laughter or something. Um I mean there's so many characters. Um what about a favorite fictional world from books? I I have to go with Lord of the Rings. Like I just love that world.

SPEAKER_02 17:15

That world I do love that world, but that's still a scary world. But it's a lot of people.

SPEAKER_03 17:20

I don't know that I would want to live in it, but no, I wouldn't live in it.

SPEAKER_02 17:23

I do, I do love that. Oh, yes. What are the trees, the ants? Right? Oh, god, yes. I uh yeah, I would go there.

SPEAKER_03 17:33

All of it.

SPEAKER_02 17:33

Let's do it.

SPEAKER_03 17:34

All of it. Well, we hope you love reading as much as we do, and we really hope that you will first come join our book club. We're gonna read some exciting things this year. And secondly, we hope you will join us on a reading retreat. So check out the show notes and definitely make sure to follow us on social to stay up to date on what we're doing and where we're going.

SPEAKER_02 17:55

Love to see you with us. Bye.

SPEAKER_03 18:28

And if you did enjoy your time with us, do us a little favor, leave a five-star review wherever you're listening, and let the world know what you love about the show.

SPEAKER_02 18:38

We'd really love to connect with you beyond the podcast. So you can find out uh all the details about staying in touch with us in the episode notes.

SPEAKER_03 18:46

And hey, if you're interested in working with us or you just want to chat, all the details are there as well.

SPEAKER_02 18:53

We'll see you next time. And remember, you are never too busy to take a pause.