the first real book you ever read

[skimom2]

I've been reading since long before I can remember, but some sentimental favorites are:
Where the wild things are.
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I can recite Where The Wild Things Are by heart--lol. My first year of college, I work/studied in the university daycare, 18mos to 3 yrs. That was their favorite book. I read it so many times that I can never forget it Then it became one of my own kids' favorite books.

 

[skimom2]

Ah, found it.

I also remember reading a forgettable little book, The Jinx of Payrock Canyon, a young readers mystery story, but it takes place in a mythical mountain town in Colorado, and that one of the things that got the Illinois boy so interested in the mountains.

That reminds me of another very early book: Brighty of the Grand Canyon. My mom read it to my brother and me, a little at a time each night, when I was about 4 or 5, and I read it again to myself as soon as she finished. I loved that book, but I'd almost forgotten about it. Wonder if LilMan would like it (if I can find a copy)?

 

[skimom2]

The first books I really remember reading for myself (like longer chapter books) were the Little House books, Nancy Drew (constantly) and Charlotte's Web.
Also, there was nothing like the feeling at school when the Scholastic book order arrived!!!!

I think we shared a reading brain, except that I preferred the Hardy Boys to Nancy Drew--they could solve cases by themselves & didn't need their dad or boyfriend (lol). I still love the book order forms, as silly as that sounds. My youngest's teacher never sent them home last year & I missed them. Anticipation of new books in the house never ends

 

[mjs9153]

I read The Hobbit in 1980. It prevented a fight on a bus.

So, story?

 

[mjs9153]

That reminds me of another very early book: Brighty of the Grand Canyon. My mom read it to my brother and me, a little at a time each night, when I was about 4 or 5, and I read it again to myself as soon as she finished. I loved that book, but I'd almost forgotten about it. Wonder if LilMan would like it (if I can find a copy)?

it's on amazon!

 

[skimom2]

it's on amazon!

Thank you! This is a different cover than I remember, but the same story

 

[mjs9153]

Yeah obv a reprint but it was qute cheap about seven bucks i think.

 

[Kurben]

Wow. Does Nancy Drew, The Hardy boys, Three investigators amd Enid Blyton stories count? Oh, and of course the William books (was it richard Crompton who wrote these and of course Biggles. But if we talk more like books for eh.. adults (trust me, i am still very childish and do frequent revisits to the glorious past) there was The Three Musketeers by Dumas, Gullivers travels by Swift (i read an abridged version with just the Lilliput and Brobdinggnag) and of course The Hobbit by Tolkien and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. But also Watership down by Richard Adams (a truly great book) and White Fang and Call from the Wild by Jack London. Oh, i almost forgot Treasure Island by Robert Loius Stevenson and Robin Hood by Howard Pyle. And of course Jules Verne. I read at least ten books by him at an early age. Great stories and easy to read. Whatever he may lack it certainly isn't imagination. People should read more of him in my opinion. He is underrated. And Conan Doyles Sherlock Holmes stories. But exact which of all these books were first i don't recall but they were allin my upbringing before King entered my world at he age of 14 or so.

 

[AnnaMarie]

So, story?

I was 18 and recently married. On the bus, on my way home from work. These two guys got on the bus, stoned on something, and harassing everyone. It had reached the point where people were getting off the bus to get away from them. They hadn't actually done anything, but just kept bothering people. One of them decided I was his next target and said something to me. Basically, what he'd like to do to me and how much I'd enjoy it. I just ignored him, and kept reading. He didn't like being ignored and came and grabbed my book (which was actually the first physically aggressive act) looked at the cover and said "I read that. What a great book". He handed it back, and spent the rest of the bus ride talking to me about The Hobbit and LotR. It was weird. After walking around acting threatening, suddenly this guy sits down in the seat near me and just chats away like we're best buddy's. His friend tried to get him back to harassing people, but he told him to sit down and shut up, then turned back and talked to me. Discussed the book without giving any spoilers.

 

[GNTLGNT]

....the Iliad & The Odyssey while in-utero....

 

[arista]

Judy blume are you there God?

 

[carrie's younger brother]

First chapter book I read was

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I was in grade one. In spoiler tags is the long story about it.

Spoiler

I read the first book, but when I went to get the second one, the librarian wouldn't let me. She said it was for students in grades 3 and 4. The grade one books were.....the same as the kiddies books. She said I wouldn't be able to read it...it was to difficult. I opened it randomly and started reading. She said I couldn't comprehend the story. (And the fact that she used the word comprehend and I understood that shows I could understand a book aimed at grade three students.) I told her all about the first book and she said someone must have told me what it was about. Then, for being such an impertinent child....I was not allowed to take a book home.

So, I bribed my brother. I would give him something (probably my allowance for a few weeks, but I actually don't remember) and he would get the book out for me. He was above grade 4 and you were allowed to get books below your grade but not above it. When I went to pay him for the third book in the series, his friends saw him getting it from the library and teased him. So, that was the end of that.

The end result of this experience....I learned to hide my books. The more I enjoyed a book, the more it was hidden. Class trips to the public library, while everyone else behaved and sat listening to the librarian reading whatever silly story she was reading, I stayed hidden in a back shelf reading the section with the numbers 398.

I LOVE that book!!!!!!

 

[carrie's younger brother]

This is the first book I can remember reading on my own that was not part of the curriculum at school. It was first published in 1963 and I entered grammar school in 1967, so I venture to guess I read it at age 7 or so for the first time in 1968. It is still one of my favorite books to date!

 

[fushingfeef]

Oh, wait, wait. How could I forget this? My parents got the LIfe Nature series of books when they first came out. I was seven or eight at the time. I devoured them. I don't know if this was the first in the series, but this is the first one I went through, and I remember turned to Chapter 3 or 4, and there was an up-closed image of a fierce shark face, and I was actually startled:

I was talking with family members at a gathering, and I used the word "scarce" correctly, except I pronounced it "skairk," because I'd only seen it, not heard it. But my parents were proud that I knew the word and could use it appropriately. They corrected the pronunciation and complimented me on the use.

Weird what you remember from your youth.

That was a good series. One of the books was Evolution. Kinda brave stuff for the early '60s. Another was Ecology, again from the early '60s, and that's when I first heard that word. They were quite enjoyable and illuminating for this (approximately) second-grader.

We had those books in our house too, Grampa! That shark face picture scared the crap out of me as a young kid! It was like looking Death in the face.

 

[Tiny]

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finally , I have made a good thread that people like.
also, I sent a letter to mr. King snail mail, with ms Mods help he might even
read it .

 

[donna1982]

The first book I remember reading by myself was called The Girl with the Silver Eyes.

 

[The Nameless]

And I remember nothing about it other than the bit everyone (even if they haven't read it) knows about. I read it in school and I had no interest in reading at the time.

 

[Chuggs]

I'm thinking that the first "real" book I read was an R.L Stine book. I read a few of them back in the day, but sadly I don't remember titles. I do remember one that had to do with a babysitter.

My first "adult" book was probably an Tom Clancy book, but I don't remember for sure. (Of course, I had to read some required reading in high school, but I don't count those ).

When I was young I used to love (heck, who am I kidding, I still do!) Dr. Seuss books. I remember getting read to at night, and looking at the pictures, and finally reading myself. My favorites were usually the Bernstein Bears. Ah, memories.

 

[carrie's younger brother]

.
.
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finally , I have made a good thread that people like.
also, I sent a letter to mr. King snail mail, with ms Mods help he might even
read it .

finally , I have made a good thread that people like.

OK, that made me get all choked up.

 

[Kurben]

I think we shared a reading brain, except that I preferred the Hardy Boys to Nancy Drew--they could solve cases by themselves & didn't need their dad or boyfriend (lol). I still love the book order forms, as silly as that sounds. My youngest's teacher never sent them home last year & I missed them. Anticipation of new books in the house never ends

I seem to remember that even they had a dad who was private detective. Fenton Hardy i think his name was. Amazing what you remember isn't it?