The Not-So Austen Bookclub discussion

Hey Guys! Just thought it might be neat to play a game like word association but with books. Be cool to reminisce on books in our past and how many we all have in common! Try a few or all! Here it goes:

1. First book you remember reading or being read to you
2. First book you fell in love with
3. Book or book series you have connected with the most
4. Book you hated reading in school but did it anyways
5. Book that you can come back to time and time again
6. Book that surprised you the most (maybe that you thought you wouldn't like but did)
7. Book you are anticipating the most now

1. My mom bought be a large book that was the collections of all the Dr. Seuss books together in one storybook. Every night before bed she would read me one! This is my earliest fondest memory of reading although she read to me through her pregnancy too and swears that's why I'm a voracious reader now!
2. The lorax!! I would ask my mom to read it night after night....im sure she is sick of it now!
3. EASY! Harry Potter! I read the first three when I was in 6th grade as soon as they came out...no movies, no hype, still a pretty unknown author/book. The first movie came out when I was in 8th grade. From then on I was at every midnight release for books, culminating to the last book during my first year of college. I really grew up with that series and have a great connection!
4. A SEPARATE PIECE! Hated it!! Wouldnt read it again for anything!!!
5. Pride and prejudice....love jane austen! Was assigned to read it in high school and feel in love which lead to my love of most all her books.
6. I never in a million years thought I would like fifty shades of grey but I actually loved it! It was quite an easy read even though the writer wasn't that good....i loved the underlying story.
7. I would have to say the third installment of the divergent series!! Though the first two were fantastic and was only disappointed to hear how long I have to wait for the third!!

1. Cherry the cake fairy. This is the first book which I remember reading and being remotely interested in. My mom made me read it since back then I hated reading, and now I love it.
2. The Ghost Child. This was the first book I can remember falling in love with. I read it in year 4 and it is such a beautiful story with enchanting twists etc.
3. Inheritance cycle. These books connected with me the most even more than HP. I was really fond of the characters and their personalities especially Eragon and Arya. I was able to connect the most with this series.
4. Five Times Dizzy. Worst book of my entire life. End of discussion.
5. Harry Potter. This is one series which I can re-read and re-read over and over again from how amazing it is.
6. ?
7. Kingdom of the wicked (Skulduggery Pleasant #7)This series is one of my faves and the last 2 books have been amazing, so I can't wait till the next. I am also anticipating the Clockwork Princess

Great idea for a thread, Jennifer!


1. First book you remember reading or being read to you - The Poky Little Puppy was the first book I remember someone reading to me and I don't remember the first book I read :(
2. First book you fell in love with - I remember absolutely loving the Ramona Quimby series as a kid! I was a major bookworm even as a child, the list would be very long, hehe.
3. Book or book series you have connected with the most - It's cliche to say Harry Potter, but I know millions grew up with the characters, so it isn't very far-fetched ;). Other than the obvious answer, I'm used to daydream about being one of the girls from Sweet Valley High, hahaha.
4. Book you hated reading in school but did it anyways - Hamlet. I know, call me crazy, but it was incredibly hard to get through when I was a kid. I've never gone back to try it again, perhaps it will steal my heart as an adult!
5. Book that you can come back to time and time again - Lullabies for Little Criminals, I devour this book at least once a year. Swoon!
6. Book that surprised you the most (maybe that you thought you wouldn't like but did) - Quite honestly, The Hunger Games. I thought I would hate it but I gobbled up all 3 back-to-back.
7. Book you are anticipating the most now - I don't know any books that are coming out soon XD, I'm so caught up in reading books I've been putting off for years. The only one I know of would be the 3rd installment of the Divergent series. :)

1. The first book I remember reading or being read to me has to be the first books in the Samantha American Girl Stories.

2. First book I fell in love with was probably the Magic Tree House. (the one on the Titanic)

3. The book series I have connected with the most is definitely Harry Potter.

4. Book I hated in school but read anyways was Plato's Republic. It was absolutely horrendous.

5. Book I come back to would be either Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban or Pride and Prejudice.

6. Book that surprised me the most would be Mockingjay. I thought I would love it and well.. I don't.

7. Book I am anticipating the most now would probably be the last one in the Mortal Instruments Series.

(apologies if this is lengthy or i am rambling a bit!)

1. First book you remember reading or being read to you
2. First book you fell in love with
3. Book or book series you have connected with the most
4. Book you hated reading in school but did it anyways
5. Book that you can come back to time and time again
6. Book that surprised you the most (maybe that you thought you wouldn't like but did)
7. Book you are anticipating the most now


1). the first book that I ever read was a large, illustrated blue paperback of ‘the wind in the willows’ that my mother gave to me. I loved the sense of adventure and all the different animals, as since then I have always been a devoted animal lover. It helped me to understand the pleasure that one can gain from reading and enjoyment.

2). the first book that I ‘fell in love with’ was Phillip Pullman’s Northern Lights, which I was given in hospital. It has such a captivating, striking cover that I was mesmerized by the compass, and I just loved Lyra and her story that was so exciting. It began my love affair with fantasy fiction that has continued for years, and I still love re-reading ‘his dark materials’ as it is a spectacular trilogy.

3). Connected to the most would be Harry Potter and JK Rowling’s epic series, as it is based on school life. I was 11 years old and the same age as Harry (the main character) when I first read the philosophers stone and I instantly connected with it. As I became older I traveled with Harry along his journey of discovery alongside mine at school, so naturally this connection entwines me, the character, Hogwarts and my own school.

4). in school I hated reading (its hard thinking this far back…) ‘of mice and men’ which was good but got a little tedious after a while, being that it is just something not my taste.

5). There are many books that I love to read and re-read time and time again but one in particular is strangely the 101 Dalmatians. I have always loved books with an adventure in them and being taken on a quest/ journey into the unknown, and this was one of those books that I read as a child and fell in love with due to the combination of animals and a mission. I don’t know what it is but the author’s writing has captured my mind so completely for years, that once I pick it up I am unable to put it down without reading the story again.

6). A book that surprised me a lot was a historical novel by Ken Follett called ‘the pillars of the earth’ which I happened to read by sheer chance. I am SO, SO pleased that I did because it was truly incredible and has remained in my top 3 with Tolkien and Rowling. It is adult themed and a television series was made based on it too, which brought Ken Follett’s work to life. I think it was the telling of the lives of others and the gripping saga’s that kept me hooked…I have never read a volume this size in such a short amount of time (a month; which for me is a record when it is hundreds & hundreds of pages).

7). At the moment the book that I am most anticipating is JK Rowling’s new novel ‘the casual vacancy’ as she is not only proved herself to be an exceptional writer but also it is so different to her previous work. I think that the entire world is curious to see if the author of the Harry Potter creation can still live up to expectations!

Tiffani wrote: "Great idea for a thread, Jennifer!


1. First book you remember reading or being read to you - The Poky Little Puppy was the first book I remember someone reading to me and I don't remember the fir..."

I loved Sweet valley high too! such great series as well as the box car children! I was recently at the library and perused the children section reminiscing on all the books of my childhood!

Jennifer wrote: I loved Sweet valley high too! such great series as well as the box car children! I was recently at the library and perused the children section reminiscing on all the books of my childhood!

Yes! I adored Box Car Children, also! I was at a used book store a few months ago and couldn't help but head over to their Independent Readers section and splurge on some of my favorite books as a kid. (So much Judy Blume!) ;)

1. Ok, I don't really remember this but my dad read to me star wars when I was not even 1!

2. Easy! Harry Potter! My dad started reading them to me when I was 3! :)

3. I honestly can't pick!!!! I've fallen in love and connected with so many books it would simply be impossible to just pick one!

4. The world we live in...It wasn't that bad but we had to write notes on every.flippin.page! Grr! Ruined the book for me!

5. There's so many! Honestly I think the Cassandra Clare books! I've reread some of them just a few times, and others 6 or 7 times! Never gets old!

6. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. I thought I would like it, but not a lot. The stereotypes that go along with the name 'Vampire Academy' made me think I wouldn't like it. WRONG! I fell in love with that series and it's spin off! I've reread all the books 6 times!

7. CLOCKWORK PRINCESS BY CASSANDRA CLARE

1. First book you remember reading or being read to you: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
2. First book you fell in love with: The Harry Potter Series
3. Book or book series you have connected with the most: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
4. Book you hated reading in school but did it anyways: I don't know- I'm homeschooled so I got to pick and choose my books.
5. Book that you can come back to time and time again: Little Women, the Hidden Hand, and the Hunger Games
6. Book that surprised you the most (maybe that you thought you wouldn't like but did): Tuck Everlasting
7. Book you are anticipating the most now: Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

Eva wrote: "1. First book you remember reading or being read to you: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
2. First book you fell in love with: The Harry Potter Series
3. Book or book series you have connected..."

I loveeed Goodnight Moon! Such a great childhood book! My first book I fell in love with was also Harry Potter!! How could you not fall in love with the HP series! :)

You get to pick you're own books?? Lucky duck!!! Hehe, and I.CANNOT.WAIT. FOR MARK OF ATHENA!!!!!!!!!!! :D

1. I think it was called The Grumpy Bunny Goes to School.(Or something like that.)

2. Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia Machlaclan.(I think I spelled her name wrong.)

3. The Secret Sisters series by Sandra Byrd

4. Silas Marner by George Elliot(?) Don't even go there.

5. Just about every book by Patricia Veryan. Esp. The Golden Chronicles series, Some Brief Folly, & Married Past Redemption

6. Married Past Redemption by Patricia Veryan (I didn't think I'd like it, but since it was in the middle of the series, I went ahead and read it. It's now one of my faves!)

7. Heist Society 3: Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter

Anna wrote: "Eva wrote: "1. First book you remember reading or being read to you: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
2. First book you fell in love with: The Harry Potter Series
3. Book or book series you ha..."

Sounds like we have a lot in common when it comes to books. :)

Eva wrote: "Anna wrote: "Eva wrote: "1. First book you remember reading or being read to you: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
2. First book you fell in love with: The Harry Potter Series
3. Book or book ..."

Indeed :)

Anne wrote: "1. I think it was called The Grumpy Bunny Goes to School.(Or something like that.)

2. Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia Machlaclan.(I think I spelled her name wrong.)

3. The Secret Sisters series ..."

Ahhhhh! I can't wait for Perfect Scoundrels!!!!!!! :D

ME TOO!!!!!!

1. First book you remember reading or being read to you
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff.
2. First book you fell in love with
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
3. Book or book series you have connected with the most
Same as above
4. Book you hated reading in school but did it anyways
Marie's Home: Or, a Glimpse of the Past by Caroline Austin
5. Book that you can come back to time and time again
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
6. Book that surprised you the most (maybe that you thought you wouldn't like but did)
A Modern Witch by Debora Geary
7. Book you are anticipating the most now
The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

βιβλιοφάγος (a.k.a. Cat) wrote: "1. First book you remember reading or being read to you
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff.
2. First book you fell in love with
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
3. ..."

Woah. For one I ADORED If You Give a Mouse a Cookie when I was little and I too (of course) LOVEEEEEEEE Harry Potter!!!!! And The Hunger Games is definitely one of my favs! And I CANNOT WAIT FOR HOUSE OF HADES!!!!!! IT'S SOOOO FAR AWAY!

It's going to drive me NUTS waiting for it!!!!

βιβλιοφάγος (a.k.a. Cat) wrote: "It's going to drive me NUTS waiting for it!!!!"

Why does Rick have to always end in a cliffhanger?! It makes the waiting even longer!!!!

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's stone- J.K. Rowling
2.The Graveyard Book- Neil Gaiman(that was so long ago and there have been so many!)
3.the Uglies series- Scott Westerfeld
4.Catherine Called Birdy [hate it!]
5.Old Magic- Marianne Curley
6.Stay- Deb Caletti
7.Boundless- Cynthia Hand

This looks fun!

1. First book you remember reading or being read to you.
Ooh . . . Probably The Little House on the Prairie, The Rescuers series, The Borrowers, Swallows and Amazons . . . Wow, memories. All of them were read to me.
2. First book you fell in love with.
Watership Down, by Richard Adams.
3. Book or book series you have connected with the most.
The Lord of the Rings? I mean, I connect to all my favourite books :) That's what makes them my favourite books xD
4. Book you hated reading in school but did it anyways.
Don't recall any.
5. Book that you can come back to time and time again.
The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Sherlock Holmes, Pride and Prejudice, Watership Down <3 :)
6. Book that surprised you the most. (maybe that you thought you wouldn't like but did)
The Hobbit surprised me, since the first time I read it I disliked it, and yet the second time I fell in love. Jessica Day George's Dragon Slippers trilogy surprised me, because I found them on the back of another series by the same publishers, and I had no idea what they would be like.
7. Book you are anticipating the most now.
Actually, it would be Ebon, by Robin McKinley. It's coming out in 2014.
Also The House of Hades by Rick Riordan, and The Hidden Kingdom by Tui Sutherland.

1. First book you remember reading or being read to you
A Little Princess and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
2. First book you fell in love with
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
3. Book or book series you have connected with the most
If you can't connect with a book, it's not a good book, so I suppose any book that I've rated above three stars had something I could connect with.
4. Book you hated reading in school but did it anyways
I don't think I've ever had a truly horrible school book...there are some I didn't enjoy, but I've never hated one.
5. Book that you can come back to time and time again
The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, Clockwork Angel, The Lightning Thief, Mark of Athena, The Bad Beginning, Pride and Prejudice, Ivanhoe, The Count of Monte Cristo...I'm not even going to try and link all of these.
6. Book that surprised you the most (maybe that you thought you wouldn't like but did)
The Eternity Cure I don't usually like vampire romances, so this pleasantly surprised me.
7. Book you are anticipating the most now
The House of Hades and Cress