What was the first novel you ever read outside of a school curriculum?
Mine was a novella for children called "The Magic of the Glits" that I just ordered for my son to read.
The second novel I remember reading on my own was by Robert B. Parker called "God Save the Child", which I really enjoyed and lead to reading a few books by that author.
@vivify saidSwiss Family Robinson, by Johann David Wyss.
What was the first novel you ever read outside of a school curriculum?
Mine was a novella for children called "The Magic of the Glits" that I just ordered for my son to read.
The second novel I remember reading on my own was by Robert B. Parker called "God Save the Child", which I really enjoyed and lead to reading a few books by that author.
2nd grade, 8 years old.
Parker was excellent.
@Bish saidNice catch. A great American classic coming of age story.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Did you know that the story came out in 1943 and that they printed up a special edition paperback version of 50,000 that went out to soldiers overseas? It proved highly popular, so popular they sent out a second printing.
I didn't "Reply" @ Suzianne so you wouldn't get a Notification :-)
Yes I knew it was the 40's (not at the time - I was maybe 11 or 12?), but no idea about printing up a special edition paperback sent to the troops until now. It feels like that could not happen today.
Physical books don't seem have the same magical appeal in modem life. The idea of spending your entire summer vacation in the back yard reading paperbacks feels historic somehow.
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Cujo by Stephen King (school book report by force, at least they let us pick)
I prefer books that are historical fiction like Fall of Giants, Grapes of Wrath, North and South, anything civil war related, anything by Wilbur Smith, John Saul horror fiction too.
I've read enough books it's hard to remember them unless I see it in my hands.
Edit: I haven't read anything in almost 10 years.
@vivify saidDavid Copperfield. At age 11. It took 2 readings to get all the characters straight in my head. The description of the London office of Spenlow and Jorkins made me want to be a lawyer. I detested the character of Uriah Heep. He reminded of some of my classmates who made it a point to kiss the a-- of the teachers in order to curry favor and to get better grades they didn't earn. Nevertheless, that book was a treasure to me. I could relate to Davids way of thinking since I was roughly the same age at that time. 🙂
What was the first novel you ever read outside of a school curriculum?
Mine was a novella for children called "The Magic of the Glits" that I just ordered for my son to read.
The second novel I remember reading on my own was by Robert B. Parker called "God Save the Child", which I really enjoyed and lead to reading a few books by that author.
@vivify saidThat depends very much on what you classify as "novel".
What was the first novel you ever read outside of a school curriculum?
Mine was a novella for children called "The Magic of the Glits" that I just ordered for my son to read.
The second novel I remember reading on my own was by Robert B. Parker called "God Save the Child", which I really enjoyed and lead to reading a few books by that author.
And probably I don't know. I was the youngest user of the villages library (before enetering elemnatry school). But probably "Jan und Knut" doesn't qualify as novel. Having about 16 pages and pictures in it 😉
@Ponderable saidQuite true.
That depends very much on what you classify as "novel".
One the first books I ever read was H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine". It had pictures so I don't know if that counts, since it may have been an abridged version. It was the same length as an average novel page-wise. From what I remember the language and content didn't seem toned-down at all; so I'm not sure if was abridged or just was just the original novel with pictures.
So if a possibly-abridged version of novels count, The Time Machine is actually my first novel.