Little House in the Big Woods - Laura Ingalls Wilder

This'll be half assed because I have dishes to do and a walk to take before dark, but here we go.

My first "book that changed my life" is Little House in the Big Woods, the first in the Little House series. Chronologically, anyway. My grandma read me this entire series when I was younger, every night we'd sit in her bed and read as long as I wanted to, me sitting and looking over her shoulder. I LOVED these books, I still do. I was fascinated with the way they lived back then, the things expected of little girls that were my age.

So, big deal, I liked a book. Well, it changed my life because it's the first memory I have of being really, really into a book. I mean, I read all the time before then too, but I attribute my devotion to and love of reading to my experience reading these with my grandma. I am a huge book, nerd, I credit my love of reading with every achievement I've made in school (and without trying to sound arrogant, I'm a very smart cookie). I firmly believe that the ease with which I can learn things, my intelligence that I pride myself on, all stems from my adoration of reading.

I owe that love to these books, and weeks spent reading them with the most amazing woman to ever have touched my life.

Michael Jackson/Lionel Richie: "We Are The World"

Given the timing of my decision to start this blog, I decided that my first entry would be a tribute to one of Michael Jackson's many amazing creations. Say and believe what you will of his personal life - you will be hard pressed to find anyone who won't admit he was a breathtakingly talented man. Granted, this is less a song that changed MY life, than one that changed the lives of people around the world. But hey, this is a baby blog. I can do what I want until people start reading.

The song was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and was recorded in 1985 to raise money to end hunger and disease in Africa. "USA For Africa" actually doesn't stand for the United Stated, but rather for "United Support of Artists for Africa".

Many of the rockers who recorded disliked the song, and were vocal about it, but reportedly Bruce Springsteen refused to participate in the "revolt" saying, "I'm here to save lives and feed people, and I'm staying."

Speaking of the event and of the issue, Springsteen said, "Anytime somebody asks you to take one night of your time to help people who are starving to death, it's pretty hard to say no... There's all this senseless suffering in the world. Either you're tearing something down or building something up. I want to be part of the building process, holding back the flood a little bit."

In the end, the single sold more than five million copies within weeks, and was able to raise 200 million dollars for famine relief. The combined success of We Are the World and Do They Know it's Christmas inspired the infamous LiveAid concert in 1985.

"We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving"

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I want to hear from you! Send me an e-mail with your story about a piece of music or literature that has had an impact on your life. Small or large, any story you have to tell. Music and books have the power to shape our lives, give us freedom, calm us down or rile us up. Get us through some of the hardest times we face, remind us of loved ones we've lost, our childhoods. What do you owe to your favorite piece of work?

Send your story to: morethansoundsandwords@gmail.com