Books that you loved as a child.

[swee'pea99]

Likewise, and without prejudice or judgment. I read anything. Problem is in those days there weren't as many children's books and I quickly switched to those of a more adult theme. A few I recall reading were some T.S. Eliot poetry when I was very young (9/10), The Exorcist (William Peter Blatty), A Clockwork Orange, hundreds of Readers Digest books, A Christmas Carol, the entire Encyclopedia Britannica and a book called "Night of the Mist" by Eugene Heimler. Probably as a result of my uncensored reading I developed an almost unhealthy interest in Witchcraft and the Supernatural. Watching "The Devil Rides Out" when I was eight didn't really help matters either.

The Exorcist? A Clockwork Orange?! The Devil Rides Out??!! At eight?

Oh, and thanks Crock - good suggestion. We saw and enjoyed the movie, so that's probably a good 'softener'. Any more suggestions anyone?

 

[ChrisKH]

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner and other short stories by Allan Sillitoe? One of my O-level texts but nevertheless extremely enjoyable. The stories are in bite sized pieces you can read in one sitting.

 

[ChrisKH]

The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy maybe? The diary of Anne Frank?

Oh, there's hundreds of possibilities.

 

[swee'pea99]

Thanks again - good suggestions. I should mention it's a she type person rather than a him.

 

[tyred]

Another author I used to love was Robert Westall. I still re-read some of his books.

 

[Yellow Fang]

As a child, my favourite books were The Hobbit, which I must have read a dozen times, and Watership Down, which I must have read about eight times. I find Watership Down very sexist and dated now, but I still think the Hobbit is JRR Tolkein's best book. My favourite book series were the animal 'Adventure' stories by Willard Price, e.g. Shark Adventure, Tiger Adventure. These were about a pair of brothers who helped their father on animal catching expeditions. As a small boy, my favourite book series were the Dragonfall 5 books. This was about a family who sailed about the galaxy in a clapped out spaceship.

 

[Arch]

I find Watership Down very sexist and dated now,

Sexist!? It's about rabbits!

Don't re-read the Adventure books in that case!

Something I was reading as a older child, some of the stories by Saki (H H Monroe) - some wonderfully dark humour, especially Shredni Vashtar the Polecat Ferret, and Gabriel Earnest the werewolf and Tobermory, the cat who learns to talk. Some of his stuff is a bit too social and class dependent to be funny to a child of today, but some of it is great.

 

[theclaud]

Something I was reading as a older child, some of the stories by Saki (H H Monroe) - some wonderfully dark humour, especially Shredni Vashtar the Polecat Ferret, and Gabriel Earnest the werewolf and Tobermory, the cat who learns to talk. Some of his stuff is a bit too social and class dependent to be funny to a child of today, but some of it is great.

Ah yes! 'Filboid Studge' was another gem of his.

 

[Breedon]

Roger red hat

 

[wilko]

Enid Blyton Famous 5 and Rupert annuals.

 

[karen.488walker]

Roger red hat

Loved loved loved Roger Red hat. He got an absolute slating at teaching college but can't remember why. Fav. children's books/ stories I've read as an adult..
Badgers parting gifts (Fab for dealing with death)
The velveteen Rabbit
The Little Tin Soldier,
Sob at all of them major time!!!

 

[alecstilleyedye]

there was a series of books i used to get from the library in australia called ant and bee. i was about six at the time and loved them. i've never seen them over here though; i had a look around for them when we had our first.

 

[longers]

I saw that the Very Hungry Caterpillar is being heavily merchandised in my local bookshop, a whole range of bits and bobs.

 

[dav1d]

I used to like The Gnomes books, and one year got an annual or something that was part comic strips, part stories. Later on, I loved the Three Investigators Books, and have actually got one on my bookshelve now!

I thought the different authors stayed true to the characters and their personalities, but then the last one to take over didn't even put his/her name or any pen name on them, and changed the characters personalities, and made the titles different too ("Hot Wheels" instead of "The Secret Of..." or "The Mystery Of..."). It was like reading about different characters. They didn't make any more after that, and I wonder if they would have done had they not used that particular author?

 

[blamelouis]

I used to like The Gnomes books, and one year got an annual or something that was part comic strips, part stories. Later on,

I loved the Three Investigators Books

, and have actually got one on my bookshelve now!

I thought the different authors stayed true to the characters and their personalities, but then the last one to take over didn't even put his/her name or any pen name on them, and changed the characters personalities, and made the titles different too ("Hot Wheels" instead of "The Secret Of..." or "The Mystery Of..."). It was like reading about different characters. They didn't make any more after that, and I wonder if they would have done had they not used that particular author?

Brillant i'm actually collecting the series through ebay now .
Sad i know.