My recent post about childhood reading sparked some interesting comments and made me think some more about other books I enjoyed reading, besides Enid Blyton. Thanks, Penny, for reminding me of all the books I read. I was never a big fan of Trixie Belden (although I did read a few), but yes I loved the Three Investigators (like jl), Willard Price, Laura Ingalls Wilder (Farmer Boy would have to be my favourite I think – the descriptions of the feasts they had were amazing to me as a Malaysian child who at that stage had never eaten a roast).
Snail (who has written his own post on this topic) took me to task for not mentioning the Secret Seven. I don’t know why I didn’t mention them – I did enjoy the antics of Jack’s annoying sister Susie… Unlike Snail I didn’t particularly get into Biggles – but did love Jennings.
Reading was a big part of my childhood, and continues to be so today. I can’t imagine what life would be like without having something to read. (What do people who don’t enjoy reading do with their time?)
I don’t really remember the books I read as a teenager though – although I read lots. Possibly my reading was a bit more wide ranging then, especially after we moved to Western Australia and I had access to the public library. I’m sure I read all the usual pulp fiction like Harold Robbins, Jackie Collins, Virginia Andrews and so on. And, Tech Explorer, I have never read any David Eddings.
What do children these days read, besides Harry Potter?
5 Comments
oh yes – the feasts in LI Wilder series were always of great interest to me too!
My kids aren’t in the age group yet so not sure what they’re reading these days.
Any kind of horror book is still popular–the Scary Stories series, R.L. Stine, etc.. If it has horror in the title, I generally buy it. Junie B. Jones and the Magic Treehouse books are popular with early chapter book readers; after that they branch in many directions.
I loved Lloyd Alexander and CS Lewis and Edward Eager and E. Nesbitt and any number of other old books, including the verging on antique (and now extremely politically incorrect) Little Colonel books.
I started reading Robin McKinley in third grade, and she remains one of my very favorite writers.
Just because you asked, lol…MMm Besides Harry P, Just a few I know are popular…
John Marsden, Tomorrow series; Garth Nix, Keys to the Kingdom Series; Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl series; Lemony Snicket, A series of unfortunate events; Anthony Horowitz, Alex Rider Series; Andy Griffiths, Just Crazy, tricking, disgusting etc..The day my bum went psycho series; Matthew Reilly, Hover Car Racer; Asterix; Terry Prachett; Anime; Futurerama/Simpsons comics; Graphic novels; Guinness World Records; Ripleys believe it or not; The Babysitters Club Series; The Saddle Club Series, and lots more.
Hi Penny, mmm… feasts….
Hi Laura, I enjoyed Narnia as a child but didn’t read Lloyd Alexander until recently. Must look out for Edward Eager, E Nesbitt (I have always wanted to read The Railway Children, but it’s never happened…) and Robin McKinley. Haven’t heard of the Little Colonel books.
Hey TB, thanks for that list! I’m happy to say I do know/have read many of them – but as an adult 🙂