I started reading books quite early. I was around books a lot and that's how I got transported as a girl into a world where characters were so many things and also a world beyond what I knew. 

As a young girl, I loved novels and was always scouting for new ones. At a point when I was in secondary school, I had a book where I wrote the names of books I had read in alphabetical order. It really was that serious for me.  I think for me, I was intrigued. These characters where different things, living different lives with so many distinct experiences and I realised  early on, how human beings in real life shared similar experiences. 

Writers like Buchi Emecheta, Mariama Ba, Nora Roberts, Chinua Achebe, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Nyengi Koin, Seffi Ata, Ama Ata Aidoo, Chimamanda Adichie and a host of others  were favourites of mine. I was especially fascinated by African Women writers.  For me, African Women writers  were like a mirror. They reflected a lot of the lived experiences of many of the women I saw growing up. They also taught me a lot of things through their writings. Writers like Buchi Emecheta, Mariama Ba  and several others  were very heavy on women being self sufficient,  educated and in control of their lives  as reflected  through the themes in their books. 

Books possess the power to inspire and motivate us. They can also challenge us and provide valuable insights . I spoke to five women on the lasting impacts of books in their lives and they each provided different perspectives.

Angel, an editor in Lagos, says ; "Americanah" by Chimamanda Adichie, made me fall in love with my skin as an Igbo woman. It made me bolder, question more and reaffirmed that there is nothing wrong in starting over as many times as possible. Also the books "There was a country" ," Half of a Yellow Sun" and "Americanah" formed the three books that pushed me towards the path of being a writer."  

Eunice, a social media manager in Ibadan,  says; "Buchi Emecheta's books have impacted my thoughts on feminism and women's rights, especially financial independence. I am really big on finacial independence especially and I see how much Buchi Emecheta ephasized on finacial independence and education for women. For Praise, an artist, she says ; "Women are different by Flora Nwakpa made me understand that friendship shouldn't define who you are or who you become and accepting your own perception of growth is important."

Folashade, a health practitioner says ; "Jack London’s story of Buck in the 1903 book "The Call of The Wild" taught me so many leadership and life lessons. I still read it yearly."  Oluchukwu a writer speaks on overcoming writer's block. She  says; "When i first read "Americanah" , Ifemelu impacted my writing. it was like she took away my writing bloc. i saw how she wrote and what she wrote about, and i just knew I had to start writing again."

Long after we have turned a page, we are left with the lasting effects of the words penned down. So what book have you read, and what lasting effect has it had on you?