For me I feel like I’ve been a reader, well, since I could read. There were certain kids books I would read over and over again, and I would usually read at least a few books a year just for fun, In addition to school books (I’ve never been a fast reader, so a handful of books a year is pretty good for me). Probably one of the first books I really loved and read multiple times (even into adulthood) was *Caddie Woodlawn*. I’ve heard of other people who become readers later in life, after they are done with school and feel like they have more time to actually read for fun. What was it like for you?
by sheffy4
29 Comments
I’m 33. It was like a month ago. Lost Mans Lane was fucking phenomenal.
I used to steal my sister’s Babysitters’ Club books when I was 8 because I didn’t have any books of my own.
I was eight or so. Picked up a Red Wall book and that’s all it took. Reader since then.
Basically since I could read at about 4.I come from a family of readers. The first book I could read on my own was “I am a Bunny”
7 James & The Giant Peach
My mum says she read me Little Golden books every night from the day she brought me home. The earliest books I remember reading independently, and adoring, are *The Magic Faraway Tree* by Enid Blyton, or *Snugglepot and Cuddlepie* by May Gibbs.
I’ve been an avid reader basically since I *could* read, but the first book series I really remember getting lost in was Brian Jaques Redwall series in early elementary school.
9. Treasure island.
Like 14. Got hooked on the Legacy of the Force Star Wars series after seeing a cool cover in Barnes and Nobles. It blew my mind that their were stories after the movies and wanting to know what happened to them.
I was about nine. Very anti-reading of any sort. Started on the Famous Five, loved them and started to devour them. Teacher told my patents to stop me reading them as they were too young for me. Read them in secret anyway and moved onto the Hardy Boys, as more punching to the solar plexus, and never looked back.
I remember for my 6th birthday I got book collection and that’s is when I started reading. It came in a cardboard board treasure chest and all the stories were based on the little mermaid. And I still have them nearly 30 years later. And still a big reader today.
I’ve always loved reading, and the peak of my reading came during high school, when I ALWAYS had a book on me (usually sci fi or horror). After high school, I got really busy juggling junior college and working, as well as preparing to move out, so I didn’t have that much time to read.
Whatever middle school age is. I was obsessed with the “Cirque Du Freak” series.
I was 8. The book was Ramona Quimby Age 8.
I use to hate reading until around 5th grade. Then I became an avid reader when I discovered RL Stine.
Started being a reader around age 8 and placed 3rd in our school’s reading rocks competition. Read casually throughout the years but really got back into reading about 26 when my friend let me borrow the book Verity
I remember devouring all of the Christopher Pike books and then I was hooked.
Around 5-6ish. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans and Eloise Books by Kay Thompson were the highlight of my life.
6. Charlotte’s Web.
I was in my mid 20’s, and the Northridge earthquake was the cause. My apartment was temporarily condemned after the quake, so a friend allowed me to stay at his home. I was basically a moron who chased drugs and alcohol and had no interest in reading. While at my friends house I went through his book collection and decided to give The Iliad a try. I was immediately hooked. A short while late I read an unbelievable review of 100 Years of Solitude and though I had to read a book that well considered. It became my favorite book, and I’m now an avid reader.
Age 7. Otherwise known as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume. Before that I read comic books.
When I was a kid I got this book called “Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry” by Mildred d Taylor at the scholastic book fair at my elementary school and I fell in love with stories and books.
I have no memory of not reading. I got that and talking very early, apparently.
I think around 8 or 9 and Invaders from Mars was my first novel I read cover to cover. Before that it was mostly picture/ comic book style.
Unless we’re counting being in the womb there has never been a time when books weren’t a part of my life.
The first ‘big book’ I read was Anne of Green Gables when I was 8. I remember feeling so proud of myself. I’ve been a reader ever since.
I don’t remember a time I didn’t love books and stories, but Roald Dahl’s books are the ones I remember really loving as a young kid once I could read for myself.
According to my kindergarten report card, I was a reader sometime before kindergarten lol
It happened a few times for me. In 2nd grade, when I read the first Harry Potter book. That was the first time I remember reading a ‘real’ chapter book. But then I was reading things like Stormbreaker and Holes and that kind of stuff. Then in high school, my grandma gave me Nelson DeMille’s Plum Island, and I loved it, and kind of kicked off my second phase of loving books as a teen. I went on to read all of the John Corey novels. it felt like I was breaking rules. it said ‘fuck,’ there was drinking, there was fucking… because I was reading these airport novel mysteries, I kind of missed most of the YA stuff that came out around that time, which would have been things like Twilight, The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner.
Then when I got into college, I stopped reading for fun because I had to read so much for school.
After I finally graduated college (the journey here is a story in and of itself) I read The Library at Mount Char and this kicked off my love of books as an adult.