How did you become a reader?

[Quake1028]

I had 3 hip operations as a kid, the first one at 6. As a result, I spent 3 different summers in full body casts. One of my home school teachers always brought me books when she came. I kind of just took off from there. I probably read over 1,000 books before I turned 10 years old, easily.

[kennyc]

Pretty hip!

(groan!)

[Corkobo]

What got me into reading was a love of stories, fairy tales to begin with. Way before I learned to read I used to memorize stories read to me and tell them to other children, later.

When I learned to read I just read all the stories that my parents and my sister had read to me before. I was very pleased that I did not need to ask someone to read me a story at their convenience.

I do remember that the first grown-up books I read were mysteries. I probably was about 8 or so and I was given an Agatha Christie book. I was so impressed that for about a year all I wanted to read (and did read) were mysteries.

[william z]

I really don't know. I started reading at a very early age, but it was mostly comic books; there was never much reading material in our house and the tiny village I was raised in as a child never even had a library. In the mid 1950's I discovered science fiction and I think that was what gave me a real love of reading.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by william z

I really don't know. I started reading at a very early age, but it was mostly comic books; there was never much reading material in our house and the tiny village I was raised in as a child never even had a library. In the mid 1950's I discovered science fiction and I think that was what gave me a real love of reading.

Excellent! And welcome to MR!

[liveoutloud91]

My 4th grade teacher introduced me to the Harry Potter series. Like a lot of people I used reading to escape harsh reality, for me that was bullies.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by John Carroll

I remember learning how to read when I was in first grade. I thought it was fascinating. I'd go to the library every week to read more books. We didn't have a TV, so I'd check out as many as I could (The local library had a 20 book limit) and I spent all my time reading.

Your library was very generous. I think mine had a 3 book limit for kids back when I was young in the 70's.

[mbovenka]

Originally Posted by crich70

Your library was very generous. I think mine had a 3 book limit for kids back when I was young in the 70's.

Yeah, 20 books is luxury. Mine had a max of 6 around the same time as yours. That's why I went to three branches at the same time

[mewmartigan]

My mom is a big reader of fantasy so she got me into it early. It has continued ever since and its even better now as with both Kindles on the same account we can easily share and discuss books.

[Dee Q]

Originally Posted by mewmartigan

My mom is a big reader of fantasy so she got me into it early. It has continued ever since and its even better now as with both Kindles on the same account we can easily share and discuss books.

Those who have mothers like yours are the luckiest people in the world. It's a great thing to nurture the love for reading in children's hearts.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Dee Q

Those who have mothers like yours are the luckiest people in the world. It's a great thing to nurture the love for reading in children's hearts.

Wow I felt a song coming on....

[bethany7]

I had fantastic parents who read to us every night. I also inherited my Mum's Enid Blyton books and fell in love with them. I read every single one and would hunt out the others in every library I joined.
I don't remember actually learning to read. I know I was quite young, and could read before starting school, again thanks to my parents. I was told at about age 9/10 that I had the reading age of a 17 year old, which made me want to read even more! I exhausted my school schools' fiction books and would beg my parents to take me to the library.
I stopped reading as much when I went into hospital for a long period of time, and it was virtually impossible to go out and buy/borrow books. Fortunately the advent of e-readers has meant that even though I still have few opportunities to get my hands on physical books, I can get almost any book I want as an ebook. I really am grateful to these devices for allowing me to rediscover my love of reading!

[Tattncat]

I was in a car accident when I was eight years old and consequently out of school for several weeks. Since I was living with my Grandmother at the time, she had nothing for me to do. However, she had the Harvard Classics in her garage. I read Dante's Inferno, (Didn't understand much) but I was hooked. From there I went on to Grimm's fairy tales, etc. By the time I could go outside again, I was a bookworm. Went to the library and checked out the Boxcar Twins and never looked back.

My Childhood and Teen-hood were less than steller. I needed the escape books provided and now I read for enjoyment.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Tattncat

(Didn't understand much) but I was hooked.

I'm not sure I understand this. If you didn't understand it, what were you hooked on?

[soulfuldog]

Passed down through the family I guess. My Mum always read a lot (as did her mother, she was a frequent visitor to the library right up until her last couple of years) and we had bedtime stories read to us when we were kids. I have a rotten memory but one of the few things I do remember from when I was young was visiting the library and the joy at being able to get 3 books at the one time! So I've always read, right from being a youngster at primary school, through my teenage years and onwards. It was also an affordable form of entertainment back in those days when we couldn't afford all the toys and stuff kids get seem to get now!