John Cusack: books that made a difference

For O, The Oprah Magazine, John Cusack named a few books that made a difference to him. One novel on the list:

To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee

I really don't know what I could say about this book that hasn't already been said. I read it in high school English class, and it was the first time I went to school and was interested in what anyone had to say. The story leaped off the page; it made me confront my own fears and prejudices. I went home and started reading and didn't stop until the next morning. I'd never had that experience. I'd never been moved that way, felt that sort of pathos or compassion. That moment—the first time you fall in love with art—it has a huge impact on you. In a sense, you're always looking for those moments.

Read about another book on Cusack's list.

To Kill a Mockingbird also made John Mullan's list of ten of the best lawyers in literature, Lisa Scottoline's top 10 list of books about justice, and Luke Leitch's list of ten literary one-hit wonders. It is one of Sanjeev Bhaskar's 6 best books.

--Marshal Zeringue