Which of the other readings stands out and will have an effect on you as you move through life?

Do you mean other than To Kill a Mockingbird? This is really a question that you need to answer. I don't know what you have read. There are many books that are special to me. I think a recent favourite of mine is Cormac McCarthy's "The Road". I think about it alot. The Road is a post-apocalyptic dystopia. It is horrific, beautiful and poetic. The book strips away all that is not essential in the world. Really what is most important are our relationships; everything else is expendable.