The Hobbit
by J R R Tolkien (1937): This book made a difference to my reading habits. A teacher read this out loud at the end of primary school. I think I was twelve and I thoroughly fell in love with it. I loved it so much that I finished reading it on my own and went on to read Lord of the Rings. I haven’t seen the movie yet.Harry Potter
by J K Rowling (1997): I felt I should mention this, however I only read the first two books (gasp!). I lost interest after that. Perhaps because I’m a slow reader and I have to truly love a series to finish it since there are so many other books calling for my attention.Other book favourites: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
, Hamlet
(which I studied in high school as well as at University), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
GAMES
Halo
(2001): I played this to death, on every level, single player, co-op, and multiplayer. My handle was The Cackler because I cackled every time I scored a headshot. This game remains one of my favourite.What's the first book you read that made a difference to your reading habits? Or the first one that had a powerful impact on you in some way?
#AtoZChallenge
I can't remember not reading so probably the books which formed my reading habit are the ones I saw my family read when I was a toddler.
ReplyDeleteA book that I read as a child that impacted me was Tuck Everlasting. The book made me think about how the convenient choice is not the same thing as the right choice.
ReplyDeleteNow you have me. I have read the hobbit and I loved it. I bought it for my brother when he requested it and then I took it from him. The book is way better than the movie.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I suspected... ;)
DeleteNo Xbox but definitely know about the game. I'm currently reading The Hobbit and Harry Potter is one of my faves. Hamlet is definitely a to Shakespeare pick.
ReplyDeleteWe have a lot in common today. I also only read the first two Harry Potter books, I'm glad there is someone who feels the same way! The Hobbit is the best introduction to Tolkien for a kid as it's so easy to read. The film is OK though I don't think they had to make three parts. And gotta love Hitchhiker's!
ReplyDeleteI had exactly the same experience with The Hobbit. Were you in my class?
ReplyDeletesounds like we had awesome teachers.
DeleteYay for Hitchhiker's Guide!!! For me it's like the Harry Potter series - loved the first books the rest didn't have the wow factor (unlike the LOTR books and the Hobbit!)
ReplyDeleteTake care
x
You only read the first two Harry Potter books? That's all right - I haven't read any of them.
ReplyDeleteThe Sword os Shannara series first inspired me.
Shhh, Shannara is in my 'S' list ;)
DeleteLOVE the Hobbit, Hamlet, & The Adventures of Huck Finn. I've seen the Harry Potter movies, but sadly I've yet to read them. If I had more TIME perhaps I'd get to them. Never read Hitchiker's either. *shame face*
ReplyDeletei know books had touched me before but the first book that truly changed the way I read was Jane Eyre.
ReplyDeleteLove Hitchhikers and Harry Potter.
The Hobbit, Huck Finn, and Harry Potter...you're a woman after my own heart. All are faves.
ReplyDeleteI've never been a big gamer, or a gamer at all. Zelda and other RPG's are my faves when I do play, though. It's been years.
I'm honored to be on your blogroll! Could you do me a favor, though? That's my old blogger blog. Could you change it to the new WP one? A direct link to the blog is mlswift.me/blog.
Thanks. Heading down to see your Save the Cat offering. Sorry it took so long, but...you know how it is. Just because I wrote a little about my current struggles didn't mean they just up and disappeared (but my, wouldn't that be fantastic if we could do that?).
Hi Mike, your link in my blogroll is all fixed up. I meant to fix that sooner, but it slipped my mind (I'm so easily distracted... oh look! A pretty!)
DeleteAnd no need to apologize. You're going through more than anyone should have to. Many hugs.
I'm going to make a confession to you. I have never read the Harry Potter books. Not even one line. I know. I know. (hangs head in shame)
ReplyDeleteI'm actaully surprised how many people are saying this in the comments, or they've read only one or two of them.
DeleteI didn't learn to read until I was about twelve. The Hobbit was my first book. My mum read it with me as part of my learning. Something I'll never forget.
ReplyDeleteNow that's the best first book I can think of!
Deleteif I remember correctly Oscar Wilde's books were the first ones to peak my interest.
ReplyDeleteI didn't like THE HOBBIT movie, it was drawn out and deeply boring and unengaging in many parts, but it also had some delightful moments (mostly the ones without Hobbits - Thranduil, Radagast, White Council, Goblin King)
Oscar Wilde wrote a lot of plays, but only one book, "The Picture of Dorian Gray". I've seen film adaptations of this story and they've mostly all been brilliant. I really should read that book.
DeleteI didn't rush out to see the Hobbit because I'd heard they'd broken the little book into three films, and that alone would drive me crazy, but also because I was not a big fan of the LotRs movies (don't get me started! lol)
he also wrote THE HAPPY PRINCE and other tales :) And it was one of my fave books as a kid. Such sad stories....
DeleteYou should watch THE HOBBIT just to see Radagast and Thranduil (who appears only for two seconds, but what two seconds those are.... )
It took me forever to read The Hobbit, not because it was long, but because I read it out loud to my kids. It takes a long time to read a book out loud.
ReplyDeleteLoved The Hobbit and LotR and wasn't disappointed in the movie either. The first book I read that taught me about the power of words, that made me cry, was Call of the Wild by Jack London. To this day I can read the last few paragraphs and be brought to tears, so beautiful...
ReplyDeleteYes! Call of the Wild is amazing
DeleteI loved The Hobbit after page 50 ;)
ReplyDeleteHP 3 is my absolute favourite of the series - that was where the storyline matured into the books I could totally love, and be prepared to buy at mid-night when they were released.
Interesting to read that Elaine loved 'The Hobbit' after page 50. I tried reading it and didn't get that far.
ReplyDeleteI only read the first two Harry Potter books, as well. Got about 120 pages into the third and just felt like they were too, too dark.
Knowing you aren't that into fantasy, I like that you're trying them anyway.
DeleteI loved The Hobbit, and the Harry Potter books! Arundhati Roy's "God of Small Things" is one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read.
ReplyDeleteI love your choice of books for H. Harry Potter and Huckleberry Finn are personal favorites, but the one book that changed my life forever was To Kill a Mockingbird.
ReplyDeleteLoved the Hobbit. I read it when I was young and was hooked forever.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was about 14, and on a Florida trip with family, I was in a used paper back store and picked up the "Summer of '42".
The movie and the book had been release years earlier. I do remember my parents liking the haunting theme song from the movie. I read the book on the beach and couldn't put it down. 15 year old Hermie's coming of age story (especially the part with the newly widowed Dorothy) just blew me away - didn't see it coming. It was a well-written novel, scary for my young age, and I never forgot that book. I didn't see the movie until I was in my 20's. The book was better. I think I also read "Jaws" on that trip...lol!
Going from Summer of '42 to Jaws... now there's a range of reading :)
DeleteI am so embarrassed to admit this, since I write books for young people, but . . . I have never read The Hobbit. I can see I am going to have to do so, and soon. I keep encountering Hobbit fans everywhere! :-)
ReplyDeleteI wish one of my teachers had read The Hobbit out loud. Although long, I bet it would make a great class read aloud. I still need to see the movie.
ReplyDeleteI'm like Elizabeth and embarrassed to admit that I've never read The Hobbit. I've never read Lord of the Rings either. I feel like I should go crawl in a hole and hide now LOL.
ReplyDeleteOMG, love the Hobbit (the book) and Harry Potter! BUt Halo, really? ;) I get killed too often in that game, but one of my room mates was so addicted to it...well, that's another story:)
ReplyDeleteI have yet to read the Hobbit and/or the trilogy yet, but I have seen the movies. One day, I will have the time to read a book before seeing the film! Happy A to Z!
ReplyDeleteMakingtheWriteConnections
Great book choices! They're both two of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteI hate to tell you this, but I've only read the first Harry Potter book!The first book that had a huge impact on me was "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom. Thanks for stopping by my blog this morning!
ReplyDeleteAll great choices today and all my favorites! Great H day. Had not seen that Hobbit cover, though. Reminded me I bought the movie three weeks ago and had not had the chance to see it.
ReplyDeleteMy wife has dyslexia but read 'the hobbit' and 'lord of the rings' which she is so proud of. I read four of the harry potter books (the beginning four) and enjoyed the movies.
ReplyDeleteGood book choices, Lynda. I've still to see The Hobbit.
ReplyDeleteNas
Reading an entire series does require either lots of love or lots of commitment. (But you've got to watch the movie!)
ReplyDeleteLOL - I wrote about Harry Potter as well, but for the letter i. Great book series here, my girls have read LOTR and HP many times.
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking out my AtoZ.
Rhonda @Laugh-Quotes.com
It really surprises me that my current crop of students are very ho hum about Harry Potter. They've moved en mass to The Hunger Games these days. New gen.
ReplyDeleteHa, I'm surprised I missed the Hunger Games for the list. I loved that first book.
DeleteI remember reading a book called Z for Zachariah. It was the first dystopian novel I ever read (now I love em) and I think it probably kick started my love of books. It was so many years ago though, I can't really remember the story any more. I ought to look it up. I'd love to read it again.
ReplyDelete