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My Reading Journey > Maggie - My Reading Journey

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message 1: by Maggie (new)

Maggie | 537 comments Hello everyone - well its finally my turn, I think I'm probably older than many of you (57 - but mentally still 25!) so I'll probably ramble a bit, hope you don't get bored!

1. Have you always loved books? Who, if anyone, inspired you to read?

Books have always loomed large in my life. I was diagnosed with severe rheumatoid arthritis in every joint when I was only two years old and my mobility quite compromised so my hobbies tended (and still are) are of a sedentary kind. (Books, crafts etc). My mother always encouraged me to read but with two younger children and a sick child there wasn't really much time for her to read to me. (And my father has never read a book in his life!) I used to stay with my auntie and uncle quite often (to give parents a break) and I discovered my grown up cousins books e.g. Little Women, Heidi, What Katy Did etc - and that was it, I was hooked. I remember The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe being read to us in primary school and I fell in love with that, I couldn't wait for the next day and the next chapter. In later school years, although we had different tastes, my best friend and I probably encouraged each other - she went on to Agatha Christie and I read all of Daphne du Mauriers novels. Then it was on to 'blockbusters' - e.g. Gone with the Wind, The Thorn Birds, Barbara Taylor Bradford and Susan Howatchnovels. Then on to the more 'racy' books e.g. Jackie Collins, Harold Robbins, Shirley Conran (so I've no need to read 50 Shades!). We then discovered Virago books, my friend went to university and reading became more serious. (I was inspired by what she was reading!

2. What was your favourite childhood book?

I have to say The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe but I can't leave out Black Beauty or Heidi.

3. What books do you remember studying at school? Did you enjoy them?

Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, Pride and Prejudice - hated them and still dislike Jane Austen (sorry all you Austen fans!). The Spire by William Golding - awful book, no more Golding for me! The Mayor of Casterbridge which I loved and have gone on to read many Hardy novels. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner - loved, The Crucible - loved, Macbeth, Hamlet, Richard IIA Midsummer Night's Dream, Antony and Cleopatra, Henry V - loved. Pygmalion - loved. Probably lots more.

4. Where do you enjoy reading? Do you need silence to read or can you read almost anywhere?

In my nice comfy chair, specially made for me, I can recline, raise my feet, get comfy and read for hours - bliss! I prefer silence when I'm reading - definitely no music (I love my music but how can I concentrate on my book when my hero Bruce Springsteen is singing to me?!) I'll read anywhere - except bed!!

5. Choose 5 favourite books and tell us why you love them so much.

This is a tough one.

1. Obviously, the one that started it all off - The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
2. The Shining by Stephen King - not the first SK I read but my favourite and read a few times.
3. Not So Quiet... by Helen Zenna Smith - this was on my friends reading list at university so I read it too, about middle class women who became ambulance drivers in France during WW1 - its quite horrific and a book I think should be read by all.
4. A Quiet Belief In Angels by R.J. Ellory - I wasn't really a reader of crime novels before this but I absolutely loved it, its very touching in parts, I've gone on to read all of RJE's books and it led me to become a big crime/thriller reader - particularly Scandanavian crime.
5. The Mayor of Casterbridge and Wuthering Heights - I couldn't decide between them so put both. Both lead me to read more classics (although I'm ashamed to say I've yet to read any Dickens!)

6. Do you prefer reading fiction or non-fiction?

I prefer fiction although I do dabble occasionally in non-fiction. I'm not keen on biography or autobiography but made an exception for A Young Man's Passage by Julian Clary - well written, funny (and filthy!) and I enjoyed Dirk Bogarde's autobiographical tomes which I read years ago. I also really enjoyed Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt.

7. Are you fond of a particular author and what attracts you to their books? (You can pick a few).

Stephen King is the author whose books I always. It started years ago with Carrie. Its not the horror aspect - I wouldn't really class his books as horror - but his characters are always so well drawn and he tells a fantastic story.
I also like R J Ellory,
Sarah Waters, Laurie Graham, Lorna Landvik, Jo NesboJussi Adler-Olsen. Favourite books is probably a better question for me!

I could go on and on!

8. Do you rely on Goodreads to keep track of your reading or do you have your own method?

I keep a list on Goodreads of what I've read year by year - in the Challenge 50 group and I have a list in this group too. I also have a lovely little pink book journal which I really should update.

9. What's the best book you've read so far this year? What are you reading at the moment? What will be your next read?

The best book I've read this year, so far, is World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks - I bought it for my partner for Christmas (2012) but he was taking his time getting round to it so I read it first. I didn't think it would be my sort of book (even though I'm a horror, zombie, Walking Dead fan) but its so clever and brilliant. Not seen the film yet but I know I'll be disappointed!
I'm reading Doctor Sleep by Stephen King at the moment and really enjoying it (its been a long time coming after The Shining).
My next book will probably be Redemption by Jussi Adler-Olsen - although I'll probably change my mind which is why I don't normally plan my reading.

Well folks, that's it - if you're still here well done!


message 2: by LauraT (new)

LauraT (laurata) | 14372 comments Mod
Old for whom Maggie? I'm 45!!!
Nice books, a lot of them are not "my" books - and some you don't like - Jane Austen's for all!!! - are my love!
But I like reading new things!!!!


message 3: by Tracey (new)

Tracey (traceypb) | 1193 comments Great journey Maggie and I totally agree with the fact Stephen King is classed as horror when really it is more suspense and his characters are as you say well drawn as if they are real and have real lives. The classics you came to late as have I and I intend on reading many more as for not trying a Dickens tut tut !! lol I read A tale of two cities and can highly recommend it. Thank you for sharing Maggie.


message 4: by Amber (new)

Amber (amberterminatorofgoodreads) Awesome reading journey Maggie, thanks for sharing with us! I'm younger than you, I'm 26 but we did Hamlet and the crucible when I was in school too. Stephen King is an awesome writer. I love his books so far. ^_^


message 5: by Pink (new)

Pink Great reading journey Maggie - there's a couple of interesting looking books that I haven't heard of before, plus a couple of my favourites :)


message 6: by Leslie (new)

Leslie | 16369 comments Maggie, you and I are about the same age - definitely agree that mentally I still feel like a twenty-something! ;)

Loved all your childhood favorites!

I am in the midst of a Scandinavian crime/mystery novel binge, but I have yet to read Jo Nesbø! I'll have to make some time to do that.


message 7: by LauraT (new)

LauraT (laurata) | 14372 comments Mod
Leslie wrote: "I am in the midst of a Scandinavian crime/mystery novel binge, but I have yet to read Jo Nesbø! I'll have to make some time to do that. "

I liked The Redbreast which I read this summer!!!


message 8: by Alannah (new)

Alannah Clarke (alannahclarke) | 14740 comments Mod
Loved reading through your answers. If you don't mind me asking, what exactly don't you like about Austen? I know a couple of people who hate her too.


message 9: by LauraT (new)

LauraT (laurata) | 14372 comments Mod
Alannah wrote: "Loved reading through your answers. If you don't mind me asking, what exactly don't you like about Austen? I know a couple of people who hate her too."
Same curiosity!


message 10: by Jenny (new)

Jenny (jeoblivion) | 4893 comments Arghh...I just wrote a lenghty comment on your reading journey Maggie and then GR tells me 'there was a problem saving your comment'. So a bit shorter this time: I really enjoyed reading through this, and 'Not so Quiet...' went straight onto my list of books I'd love to read. I had a friend like that as well when I was younger, and I think it is quite fascinating how others help define our taste in literature, either by how we disagree or how we agree and by how we stumble upon books we hadn't picked up had it not been for them. I am pretty sure I wouldn't be the reader I am today without her, though we loved to disagree.


message 11: by Shirley (new)

Shirley | 4177 comments Maggie, I too loved your childhood favourites, and like you, went on to read the likes of Susan Howatch and Barbara Taylor Bradford. I've read a few of Du Maurier's books but plan to read more.

I've added Not So Quiet... to my "to read" list and also "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil".

I've read one Jo Nesbo book and would like to read more, which do you recommend?

It's interesting that so many of us remember how we were read to in primary school - I think storytime is such an important part of the school day...

Thanks for posting this, Maggie, it's been really interesting to read!


message 12: by Maggie (new)

Maggie | 537 comments Thanks everyone for your lovely comments.

Alanah and LauraT: Jane Austen, I just can't get on with the books - I'll try and have another go just for you!

Tracey: I'm reading DR sleep at mo - its fab. I know, tuttut I will read a Dickens soon!

Jenny and Shirley: Hope you enjoy 'Not So Quiet...'
I've read The Bat, The Redbreast and The Redeemer and also the standalone Headhunters by Jo Nesbo. Liked them all. Headhunters is really quick and easy to read, just suspend belief in parts! The film was pretty good too.

Thanks everyone.


message 13: by Tweedledum (last edited Jan 19, 2014 01:00AM) (new)

Tweedledum  (tweedledum) | 2167 comments Thankyou Maggie for posting your reading journey. Reading these posts really helps to get a clearer picture of the wonderful people in this Goodreads club. Happy reading for 2014.

I'm a Narnia fan too by the way.


message 14: by LauraT (new)

LauraT (laurata) | 14372 comments Mod
Tweedledum wrote: "Thankyou Maggie for posting your reading journey. Reading these posts really helps to get a clearer picture of the wonderful people in this Goodreads club. Happy reading for 2014.

I'm a Narnia fan..."


Come and visit Narni then!!!


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