Monday, February 27, 2012

Book Chat: First Adult Book Read

 

Since we talked about children's books last week, I thought I would flip it to adult books this week.

The first adult books I read were probably the Cat Who books by Lilian Jackson Braun. I began reading these in about fourth grade, or was it third? I think they're the type of books that can be read at any age.

By eight grade I was reading Michael Crichton and Stephen King, though. And now I read more YA. Weird, huh?

What was the first adult book you read?

18 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Not sure if it was Terry Brooks' Shannara series or The Hobbit.

Hart Johnson said...

I read an Agatha Christie in 4th or 5th grade... and I remember Summer of 42 making the rounds in 6th grade (because you know... it had a couple sex scenes). Stephen King was the one who hooked me, though--the 'never going back to kids books' until Harry Potter pulled me back again.

Marta Szemik said...

I'm pretty sure it was Dan Browns' Angels and Demons- that is if you don't count all the Harlequin romances I read as a teen.

Samantha May said...

Because of school: The Lord of the Flies (I ended up really liking that one though)

On my own: The Hobbit (which I didn't fully appreciate until much much later).

Christine Rains said...

I started reading Stephen King when I was ten. I still love him now!

Alleged Author said...

The first adult book I read was The Stand. Excellent novel!

Ciara said...

I did the same thing. Stephen King as a kid and YA as an adult.

J.L. Campbell said...

I have a couple of 'The Cat Who ...' books. I should read them.

My first adult books were from the Mills & Boon line and I started reading them before I was twelve.

Rusty Carl said...

I recall reading John Varley, Isaac Asimov, and a few others as a kid. not real 'adult' but not YA either. I thought it was just fine. I really never stopped enjoying those exact same type of stories.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I was reading Lord of the Rings and To Kill a Mockingbiord at the same time. They would have been my first adult books.

Brinda said...

I think some of the first adult books I read were either historical romances or supernatural horror (like Audrey Rose).

Cher Green said...

In school, A Wrinkle in Time and Emily Dickinson - Poetry.

Forever by Judy Blume comes to mind.

V.C. Andrews was the first author to take me in. Her series are wonderful.

I'm really not sure when I began reading Stephen King and Dean Koontz.

I've read so many, the first book is hard to remember. As a teen, I would go to the library and grab random books, reading from every genre. I had a hunger for the written word.

Sarah Tokeley said...

I'm pretty sure Stephen king was my first 'grown-up' author too :-)

Callie Leuck said...

Ooh that's a hard one. I guess it was probably a Stephen King or some scifi novel--they were the ones on my parents' bookcase with the prettiest covers! I remember getting really into Dickens when I was pretty young too, so maybe one of those. Whatever it was, the occasion of "first adult book" wasn't noteworthy enough to stick in my memory. It could've been Little Women.

Jessica said...

The first adult book I read was A Tale of Two Cities in 6th grade. The teacher tried to talk me out of it...took me awhile before I picked up any Dickens again. :P

Greever Williams said...

4th Grade - Steineck's The Red Pony was the first adult one I can remember. I bawled and wondered why the hell my Dad had given such a sad book to such a little kid. He said it was because he thought I could handle it and that it would foster a lifelong love of reading. He was right! I only wish he was stil around to see me publish my very own! Thanks Dad! And thanks Cherie for such an interesting post!

Unknown said...

That's interesting. I also read adult books when I was a pre-teen/teen, and then discovered YA books in my twenties (and now I don't read any adult books!). Weird how that happened!
I can't actually remember the first adult book I read...

Deniz Bevan said...

What a great choice! I love the Cat Who series. Funny, I only discovered them later on - I was reading Agatha Christie...