This might sound a bit cliche, but The Lord of the Rings was that book for me. I read it when I was 20. I’d just started my first real job, I’d started to spread my wings a little and I’d finally gotten around to reading this absolute titan of a book.
Having been a massive fan of the movies I’m surprised it took me as long as it did to read the books, but I’m so glad I waited. It was the first time In my life I’d ever felt truly lost in a world.
I’ve not had an opportunity to revisit the books since I originally read them, but one day…
Spike Milligan’s Adolf Hitler: My part in his downfall. One of Spike’s war memoirs; hilarious and sad, a unique insight into the common soldier’s experience, and a great way to learn history.
I think I was about 12 and it was one of:
- The Stainless Steel Rat - Harry Harrison
- Truckers - Terry Pratchett
- Protector - Larry Niven
Crumbs, that’s a tricky one as it was likely one I read as a nipper.
I do trace my love of fantasy and sci-fi back to The Boy With The Bronze Axe, which was a great historical book for kids. From there it’s a clear line through The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to The Hobbit. I should also flag Star Wars up as a big influence - I was hungry for more of that so drank books down, on long drives over the holidays, I’d get through a book a day. I remember there was a book offer for schools and I got quite a few that way, especially the John Carter of Mars books. I trawled through secondhand book shops grabbing armfuls of whatever took my fancy.
Big fan of The Hobbit myself. Obviously it’s a much lighter read than what came after, but it’s just as enjoyable and potentially even more readable. Looking forward to reading that to the kids when they’re a bit older.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I’d already seen the first two films, so thought I’d start at book three.
Still haven’t read the first two yet.
Spot The Dog. Fucking classic.
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss. I think I used to know it by heart when I was 6. Now as an adult I can appreciate how it must have been a riotous technical challenge to write a story using only 50 words, with the only multi-syllabic word being “anywhere”.
Not sure what the first one was, since I’ve been reading since I was very young, but the book that transformed what reading could mean to me was Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Before that, I never knew someone could be so playful with language and meaning.
Can’t remember much now, as it’s been well over a decade, but what I do remember is that, when I was a kid, I had read “Raptor Red” that was lying in a shelf from my home, and I found it great.
