How did you start reading? - Page 5

JoeD · 02-19-2010, 12:05 PM

I remember reading a Famous Five as a kid whilst on holiday in Scotland. Ended up hooked on the series and bought nearly every one along with many of the Secret Seven books.

As I reached high school I moved onto Fantasy books such as the Forgotten Realms/Dragon Lance series and Lord of the Rings along with a dose of StarWars/AvP Science Fiction and a bit of Stephen King. Many years later and I'm not more into reading books like Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt and Sci-Fi currently still reading the Honor Harrington series by David Webber.

Funny how reading habits change over the years

hallali · 02-19-2010, 04:35 PM

After having memorized almost every picturebook in that large boxes in the library I remember that the first "real" book I was holding in my hand was Robinson Crusoe, as the shelf on which it stood was closest to the small childrens department. I picked it randomly out of the shelf, read the title and the first few sentences, but soon became bored as I was maybe 6 or 7. But I remember holding it in my hand. I still see the cover. I read it many years later and it is still one of my favourite books.

MickeyC · 02-21-2010, 09:00 AM

The book that got me started reading in earnest was The Dreadful Lemon Sky by John D MacDonald. I had just moved to a foreign country and didn't know anyone and found myself with lots of time on my hands most work nights. Then, one day, I noticed the MacDonald paperback in a shop and bought it on impulse and thoroughly enjoyed it. That got me hooked on the Travis McGee series and reading in general.

This wasn't the first book I'd read but it was the one that made me see reading in a different light.

Fledchen · 02-21-2010, 09:13 AM

I was fortunate to have grown up in a household in which reading was expected and encouraged. I remember my parents reading to me and my younger brother, frequent trips to the library, books as gifts for every birthday. I was impatient to learn to read for myself. My mother recalls that I came home from the first day of first grade in tears because we hadn't starting learning to read yet. I do remember the very first reading lesson, in which the words "I," "the" and "is" were introduced. There was a philosophy of memorization of common words first followed by phonics-based learning of more complex words. I don't know what program was used, but I thought the stories used in lessons were weird and stupid. Why would a kid have a pet mink?! We got points for reading the supplementary picture books that were part of the reading program, and could trade those points in for prizes like stickers and pencils. I ended up with a lot of stickers. At some point I finished *all* of the supplementary books and my teacher, in exasperation, sent me off to the school library to write my own stories. I wrote and illustrated an epic tale about my budgie Polly and her buddy Keeta, which was displayed in the library. I just about burst from pride!
My first SF book was "My Teacher is an Alien" by Bruce Coville, which I think I received as a gift in third grade. I was hooked for life, and pestered the school librarian for more books like it.
My first "grown-up" book was Dragons of Autumn Twilight, which I read when I was 10. Not exactly fine literature, but it was entertaining and it was the longest book I'd read at that point. It's what got me interested in fantasy beyond the fairy tale books that most kids grow up with.

ficbot · 02-21-2010, 11:23 AM

I remember just always reading. Many of the books already mentioned---Ramona, the great brain etc. I also remember one year where all I wanted for my birthday were Star Trek novels and I got dozens of them.

My dad as always into the classics and kept trying to get me to read the Tom Sawyer books. I hated them and it left me wary of classics for many years. Reading Wuthering Heights in university finally taught me to like classics.

I read everything now. I go through phases where I am more into one thing than another (for example, I seem to be enjoying a lot of non-fiction these days!) I just always remember having books around and reading them.

K8Ereader · 02-22-2010, 02:02 PM

Apparently, my Mother discovered that I was reading the Railway Station names on the way to my Grandmother's aged 3. I remember wanting my Cousin's illustrated '12 dancing Princesses' and being absolutely bowled over when it was given to me. I took that book everywhere.

kwjones · 02-22-2010, 02:31 PM

My son just turned 1 a few months ago. I've already bought him quite a few Little Golden Books and Richard Scarry books to start his library.

John K · 02-25-2010, 05:53 PM

I can't remember the first few books but what hooked me on reading was The Hardy Boys.

Stitchawl · 02-25-2010, 06:45 PM

Books were always the presents we received for holidays. Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, Classics for Kids, etc., but my 7th grade English teacher (for you UK folks that would be about age 11-12,) gave out supplementary reading lists, a different list for boys and girls, and we had to pick out three books to read from that list and write book reports for each. The boy's list was filled with action and adventure stories. Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island, Ivanho, etc. Much more enjoyable at age 12 than reading the required for class "Silas Marner." Being able to choose my own book was inspiration in itself!

Stitchawl

idraw22 · 02-26-2010, 04:30 AM

Oh, "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien. My fourth grade teacher read it to me and the rest of the class. I was already very imaginative and loved to draw. From there it was comic books and science fiction!

FlorenceArt · 02-26-2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

...but my 7th grade English teacher (for you UK folks that would be about age 11-12,) gave out supplementary reading lists, a different list for boys and girls, and we had to pick out three books to read from that list and write book reports for each. The boy's list was filled with action and adventure stories. Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island, Ivanho, etc.

I'd like to know why boys always get all the fun?!! I remember when I was at school and the two last years were grouped and separated between boys and girls for the "craft" classes (not sure what they were really called at the time). For two years I had to do some totally uninteresting things (sewing an apron, then decorating a pillow with stitching), while the boys got to paint on pebbles

Oops, sorry, that's a bit off topic I guess

GeoffC · 02-26-2010, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

I'd like to know why boys always get all the fun?!! I remember when I was at school and the two last years were grouped and separated between boys and girls for the "craft" classes (not sure what they were really called at the time). For two years I had to do some totally uninteresting things (sewing an apron, then decorating a pillow with stitching), while the boys got to paint on pebbles

Oops, sorry, that's a bit off topic I guess

you mean girls don't have fun ! ?

wow ...

back on topic,

I don't know, but certainly at some stage I was introduced to The Famous Five (didn't feel same about the Seven). From then it would be whatever I could get a hold of, which wasn't much as my parents were/are not readers, and as a kid I had to make each book last as long as possible, which may be one reason I read and re-read favourite books.

As I've tried to grow up, I've moved more into Fantasy via the usual route (LOTR and Covenant) - but e-reading has opened up a whole new set of authors that I would not otherwise have read....

banjobama · 02-26-2010, 12:07 PM

Books that got me hooked as a kid:

The Babysitter's Club
All the Ramona and Beezus books
The Bunnicula series
Treasure Island
anything by E. Nesbit

oboy · 03-01-2010, 02:30 AM

I don't remember the first books that I read, but the two that stick out are Little Vic, which I bought from a Scholastic sale in the 2nd grade, and around the same time I read a biography of Louis Braille from the school library, which started a love of biographies that I still have 35 years later.

For me, Doc Savage didn't come along until the movie was shown on TV. I now own all the books and a few of the pulps (and shhh, have the entire series on my Sony Reader).

Encyclopedia Brown was another favorite.

HorridRedDog · 03-03-2010, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oboy

...For me, Doc Savage didn't come along until the movie was shown on TV. I now own all the books and a few of the pulps (and shhh, have the entire series on my Sony Reader).

Encyclopedia Brown was another favorite.

I've seen bits of it (Doc Savage) on YouTube. I would rather pull out my fingernails than watch the whole thing.

(and shhh, have the entire series on my Sony Reader)

So do I. I mean I would like to

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Do you finish reading every book you start reading?	JSWolf	General Discussions	56	08-12-2010 05:52 PM
"Start Reading" link in mobipocket	Jellby	Bookeen	13	09-14-2008 02:55 PM
Did an ereader help kick start a reading habit	manchuia	Which one should I buy?	24	07-04-2008 10:12 PM
Environmental study: 30 min of e-paper reading = 30 mins of print reading	Steven Lyle Jordan	News	36	12-14-2007 03:29 PM
Start reading...Why the Kindle Will Fail on your Kindle in under a minute....	brecklundin	Amazon Kindle	1	12-06-2007 07:00 PM

02-19-2010, 12:05 PM	#61
JoeD Guru Posts: 895 Karma: 4383958 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: na	I remember reading a Famous Five as a kid whilst on holiday in Scotland. Ended up hooked on the series and bought nearly every one along with many of the Secret Seven books. As I reached high school I moved onto Fantasy books such as the Forgotten Realms/Dragon Lance series and Lord of the Rings along with a dose of StarWars/AvP Science Fiction and a bit of Stephen King. Many years later and I'm not more into reading books like Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt and Sci-Fi currently still reading the Honor Harrington series by David Webber. Funny how reading habits change over the years

02-19-2010, 04:35 PM	#62
hallali Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 468 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Köln, Germany Device: Es ist das PB 302, ich schiele aber schon auf das 360	After having memorized almost every picturebook in that large boxes in the library I remember that the first "real" book I was holding in my hand was Robinson Crusoe, as the shelf on which it stood was closest to the small childrens department. I picked it randomly out of the shelf, read the title and the first few sentences, but soon became bored as I was maybe 6 or 7. But I remember holding it in my hand. I still see the cover. I read it many years later and it is still one of my favourite books.

02-21-2010, 09:00 AM	#63
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,732 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	The book that got me started reading in earnest was The Dreadful Lemon Sky by John D MacDonald. I had just moved to a foreign country and didn't know anyone and found myself with lots of time on my hands most work nights. Then, one day, I noticed the MacDonald paperback in a shop and bought it on impulse and thoroughly enjoyed it. That got me hooked on the Travis McGee series and reading in general. This wasn't the first book I'd read but it was the one that made me see reading in a different light.

02-21-2010, 09:13 AM	#64
Fledchen Guru Posts: 663 Karma: 84658 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Minnesota, USA Device: PB360+, Sony950, VR Stream, iPod Touch, iPad	I was fortunate to have grown up in a household in which reading was expected and encouraged. I remember my parents reading to me and my younger brother, frequent trips to the library, books as gifts for every birthday. I was impatient to learn to read for myself. My mother recalls that I came home from the first day of first grade in tears because we hadn't starting learning to read yet. I do remember the very first reading lesson, in which the words "I," "the" and "is" were introduced. There was a philosophy of memorization of common words first followed by phonics-based learning of more complex words. I don't know what program was used, but I thought the stories used in lessons were weird and stupid. Why would a kid have a pet mink?! We got points for reading the supplementary picture books that were part of the reading program, and could trade those points in for prizes like stickers and pencils. I ended up with a lot of stickers. At some point I finished all of the supplementary books and my teacher, in exasperation, sent me off to the school library to write my own stories. I wrote and illustrated an epic tale about my budgie Polly and her buddy Keeta, which was displayed in the library. I just about burst from pride! My first SF book was "My Teacher is an Alien" by Bruce Coville, which I think I received as a gift in third grade. I was hooked for life, and pestered the school librarian for more books like it. My first "grown-up" book was Dragons of Autumn Twilight, which I read when I was 10. Not exactly fine literature, but it was entertaining and it was the longest book I'd read at that point. It's what got me interested in fantasy beyond the fairy tale books that most kids grow up with.

02-21-2010, 11:23 AM	#65
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	I remember just always reading. Many of the books already mentioned---Ramona, the great brain etc. I also remember one year where all I wanted for my birthday were Star Trek novels and I got dozens of them. My dad as always into the classics and kept trying to get me to read the Tom Sawyer books. I hated them and it left me wary of classics for many years. Reading Wuthering Heights in university finally taught me to like classics. I read everything now. I go through phases where I am more into one thing than another (for example, I seem to be enjoying a lot of non-fiction these days!) I just always remember having books around and reading them.

02-22-2010, 02:02 PM	#66
K8Ereader Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 350 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Norfolk UK Device: Sony PRS-600	Apparently, my Mother discovered that I was reading the Railway Station names on the way to my Grandmother's aged 3. I remember wanting my Cousin's illustrated '12 dancing Princesses' and being absolutely bowled over when it was given to me. I took that book everywhere.

02-22-2010, 02:31 PM	#67
kwjones Groupie Posts: 178 Karma: 1546 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Rising Sun, MD Device: Sony PRS-505; Motorola Droid	My son just turned 1 a few months ago. I've already bought him quite a few Little Golden Books and Richard Scarry books to start his library.

02-25-2010, 05:53 PM	#68
John K Reader Posts: 266 Karma: 13465550 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle DXG, Kobo Forma	I can't remember the first few books but what hooked me on reading was The Hardy Boys.

02-25-2010, 06:45 PM	#69
Stitchawl Opsimath Posts: 12,344 Karma: 187123287 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand Device: Sony PRS-650, iPhone 5, Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-350, iPad, Samsung Galaxy	Books were always the presents we received for holidays. Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, Classics for Kids, etc., but my 7th grade English teacher (for you UK folks that would be about age 11-12,) gave out supplementary reading lists, a different list for boys and girls, and we had to pick out three books to read from that list and write book reports for each. The boy's list was filled with action and adventure stories. Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island, Ivanho, etc. Much more enjoyable at age 12 than reading the required for class "Silas Marner." Being able to choose my own book was inspiration in itself! Stitchawl

02-26-2010, 04:30 AM	#70
idraw22 Zealot Posts: 115 Karma: 1094380 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: arkansas Device: Jetbook Lite, Kindle 3, jetbook mini, sony clie, sony prs-T1	Oh, "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien. My fourth grade teacher read it to me and the rest of the class. I was already very imaginative and loved to draw. From there it was comic books and science fiction!

Advert

Advert

02-26-2010, 12:07 PM	#73
banjobama Busy Read'n Posts: 980 Karma: 5039283 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Auburn, WA Device: Pocketbook Touch Lux 5	Books that got me hooked as a kid: The Babysitter's Club All the Ramona and Beezus books The Bunnicula series Treasure Island anything by E. Nesbit

03-01-2010, 02:30 AM	#74
oboy Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 24 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Florida Device: Sony Reader	I don't remember the first books that I read, but the two that stick out are Little Vic, which I bought from a Scholastic sale in the 2nd grade, and around the same time I read a biography of Louis Braille from the school library, which started a love of biographies that I still have 35 years later. For me, Doc Savage didn't come along until the movie was shown on TV. I now own all the books and a few of the pulps (and shhh, have the entire series on my Sony Reader). Encyclopedia Brown was another favorite.