Jan 11, 2008

Meme: Introduced

Question from Booking Through Thursday: 1. How did you come across your favorite author(s)? Recommended by a friend? Stumbled across at a bookstore? A book given to you as a gift?
2. Was it love at first sight? Or did the love affair evolve over a long acquaintance?


The first author that comes to mind was Chaim Potok. I first read his novel The Chosen as a high-school assignment, and loved it. My sister T. did too. We read the sequel together, and over several more years I chanced upon more of his books. Before long I was seeking them out, and I've now read (and own) all of his fiction works. I was very sad when he passed away a few years ago...

Anne McCaffrey I discovered because a childhood friend gave me Dragonflight for my birthday. Barbara Hambly I found by picking up one of her books at a second-hand shop, same with James Herriot. Tolkien, my father read us The Hobbit when we were children. Mark Twain, as well. I remember sitting on a chair looking over his shoulder at the pictures in Heritage Press editions of Tom Sawyer. Barbara Kingsolver I discovered because my mother told me that my sister was reading and liked The Poisonwood Bible. Orwell- I first read Animal Farm in school, and 1984 off my father's bookshelf. In more recent years my husband and I discovered and began reading more of Orwell's novels; we sought them out. Now they're a household favorite. Steinbeck is another author that high school introduced me to; I remember discussing The Grapes of Wrath in class. I have gradually come to know and love more of his works.

I don't remember how I first came across Robin McKinley's works, or Mary O'Hara but I've read and loved them since childhood. I think I first stumbled across them at the public library. C.S. Lewis is a very old favorite, too. I think perhaps my mother first read or introduced us to The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. Maybe my sisters can help me remember that one...

I could go on, because I have lots of favorites. I think those are the top dozen, though!

10 comments:

  1. Anonymous1/11/2008

    I love CS Lewis too, and it's been fun introducing my kids to old favorites.

    Thanks for the formatting help on my blog. I don't really get it, though. Can you email me so I can ask another question?

    Thanks! lisamunley@ca.rr.com

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  2. I'm liking the new look of your blog! :)

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  3. Thanks, Lauren. I spent half a day tinkering with it!

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  4. It sounds like you have happy memories wrapped up around some of your favorites. :-)

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  5. It's hard to choose isn't it. So many good books. I like that you remember so clearly how you found your favourite books. Sounds like you dad was a big influence.

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  6. Thanks for reminding me about James Herriot. I so loved his books and the wonderful English TV series that came out of them in the 1980s.
    Love your blog — and thanks for visiting mine to comment.

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  7. Anonymous1/12/2008

    I love the layout of your blog. Thanks for visiting mine.

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  8. Our parents are both very literate and books were a very large part of our child hood. The family is still trading books around and giving them as gifts, in fact I think books are our most common gift.

    I have the same memories of Tolkein, Twain, Lewis, Potok and Steinbeck. I remember laying in bed and discussing the C.S. Lewis books as we both read through the entire series in a matter of a week.

    Mom was as big an influence in our reading as Dad was. She was the one that took the time to take us to the library every week (if not more often) and got us using our own library cards when we were four and five years old.

    I feel very very blessed to have such a literate family.

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  9. Yes, I remember Mom reading to us Laura Ingles Wilder, Francis Burnett, and many others. I particularly remember Where the Red Fern Grows- we read that at the Thanksgiving cabin. I didn't mention them all because I could only think of a limited number! There are really too many to list.

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  10. It always fun to remember favorite books. I heard lot about Barbara Kingsolver, but never pick up on reading "The Poisonwood Bible". It'll be awhile for me to get to it :)

    To answer your question from my blog about Emily books (New Moon) that Montgomery wrote....Well I already reply back to you on my blog comment page, but I figure I answer here too. Nope, I never read Emily books. Maybe I should give it try. Thanks for tip! And thanks for stopping by :)

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