Which books were your favourites during your childhood and younger days?
By veejay19
@veejay19 (3589)
India
January 21, 2010 12:22am CST
Hello friends, my parents always encouraged me to read good books, especially the 'classics' and bought for me a number of books during my young days.As a young kid i used to read cartoon comics but soon graduated to reading books. I read plenty of books but adventure stories were my most favourite amongst them.To name a few, "Twenty thousand leagues under the sea" by Jules Verne, " Kidnapped" by Robert Louis Stevenson, "The adventures of Robin hood", "Tarzan, the apeman" by Edgar Rice Burroughs were some of my most favourites. When i was a kid "Alice in Wonderland" and "Wizard of Oz" fascinated me.Later on as an adolescent "Sherlock Holmes", the famous detective series of "Perry Mason" held me spell bound.I also was fascinated by Greek mythology and my favourite was "Hercules".I still remember the Hollywood movie "Hercules Unchained" starring the former Mr Universe Steve Reeves in the title role.Share with me your favourite reading during your younger days, my friends.
10 people like this
49 responses
@beaniefanatic13 (5076)
• Grand Junction, Colorado
24 Jan 10
I loved to read when I was a kid, I would read anything I could get my hands on. I grew up in a rural area and so in the summertime we actually had a bookmobile that came every 2 weeks, I would check out the max (12 books). I remember reading "Boxcar Children" "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" series. "Nancy Drew" and "The Hardy Boys" series. I loved series books as I never wanted my characters to end. I have followed that in to adulthood also. As a teenager it was the "Flowers in the Attic" series. V.C. Andrews became one of my all time favorite authors. I much prefer to pick up a book in a series than to read a book that will end when I'm finished reading it. I think that the greatest gift that we give to our young people is showing them the gift of reading. As I always told my children when they were young, "Good readers make great leaders." Happy reading!
@beaniefanatic13 (5076)
• Grand Junction, Colorado
12 Feb 10
First I want to say thank you for the best reponse.
I do have a son he's 15 years old. I used the search engine here at mylot and found a website about that series I'm including it in my response as I got a big kick out of some of the information given about this series. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_William_
I will have to locate a couple of these books and check them out for myself and pass along to my son.. I just finished the last book in the "Twilight" series great ending but the saga ended also, such a shame when they come to an end. Happy reading.
@beaniefanatic13 (5076)
• Grand Junction, Colorado
12 Feb 10
Sorry I checked the link and it didn't work apparently I had an extra word in there that didn't belong. This should work now. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_William_
@veejay19 (3589)
• India
12 Feb 10
Like you too iliked to read series books but since i am a male my interests wer obviously routed in that category. As a kid i used to read "The adventures of William Brown" series of books.I don`t recall the author but like dennis the Menace the stories were hilarious.If you can find the name of author and these books , and if you have a son he will enjoy it immensely.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
22 Jan 10
My favourite books when I was a child were Enid Blyton books. I started out reading her series on the Magic Faraway tree which had magical lands at the top of it which rotated around on clouds. I also had the Wishing Chair books which were about a flying chair that would take the children wherever they wished to go. 
I then progressed onto The Famous Five series in which I read every single book and also The secret Seven which I also read every book in the series. These were very popular and my daughter now has my remaining Famous Five and Secret Seven books and has read them herself. She enjoyed them, but has moved beyond them to the modern classics of the Harry Potter and Twilight series! 
I then progressed onto The Famous Five series in which I read every single book and also The secret Seven which I also read every book in the series. These were very popular and my daughter now has my remaining Famous Five and Secret Seven books and has read them herself. She enjoyed them, but has moved beyond them to the modern classics of the Harry Potter and Twilight series! @RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
24 Jan 10
Yeah, the baddies in the books that I read as a child were no where near as dark and evil as they are now. There was no where near as much detail about such things either I don't think.
@puppynut (370)
• New Zealand
23 Jan 10
Enid Blyton and ss and F5 were all great too! I must have been such a bookworm back then, now Im just a computer nerd! I don't think much of the modern stuff. It's just all to adult and not very childlike and mysterious. It's hard to keep kids staying young nowadays. They grow up too fast!
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
22 Jan 10
All of the above is all that I can say. I read all of the Tarzan books and also all of his Mars (Barsoom) and Venusian stories. It's mant years since I read eny of them, but I sill have all of the books on my shelves and someday I may re-read them all again.
I read all of the Tarzan books and also all of his Mars (Barsoom) and Venusian stories. It's mant years since I read eny of them, but I sill have all of the books on my shelves and someday I may re-read them all again. @jwfarrimond (4473)
•
24 Jan 10
Yes, thats right, I read Jules Verne, (20,000 leagues under the sea, The First Men in the Moon, and Journey to the centre of the earth) and H. G. Wells "Time Machine* when I was still at at school and I think that eading them was what sparked off a life long love of Science Fiction and Fantasy, of which I have a large colletion of mostly paperback books most of which were bought during the 70's and many of which are now collectors items. I have a pretty large collection of SF magazines from the 60's and 70's as well, most of which I bought at the time.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
22 Jan 10
I read lots of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books. I read any book about Native Americans that I could find. So mostly mysteries and how to live like a Native American (American Indian). I also read some biographies of different people like Helen Keller, Geronimo, etc. I looked up recipes in lots of cookbooks. Some cookbooks had stories in each chaper and I read those. I read magazines, too. Mostly "Better HOmes and Gardens" and "National Geographic."
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
23 Jan 10
Sounds like you read a lot! I loved those books. Thanks and take care.
@puppynut (370)
• New Zealand
23 Jan 10
Nancy Drew was great wasn't it and Helen Keller. I'm enjoying the 'Little Treasures' magazine at the moment because I'm about to have my first baby and the information is great but I really could use a good fantasy too. Reading broadens horizons and I think Nancy Drew actually did that for me when I was young.
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@veejay19 (3589)
• India
24 Jan 10
My friends and i were virtually brought up reading Cowboy Western comics and novels. and we were so crazy that as kids we used to enact them by wearing holsters with toy pistols and also dressed up as Indians wearing crow feathers in the hair like the Apache Indians did. It was great fun. My most fav cowboy author was Zane Grey since his descriptive powers were tremendous, of the prairies, the sunsts,etc and he used to bring the scenes virtually alive in the mind.
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@faridmadeabillion (1127)
• Bangladesh
23 Jan 10
Hey friend, I also responded to this type of discussion before with the title 'What books did you read as a kid?' started by our myLotter friend, allyoftherain. In my childhood days, I was fond of fairy tales and cartoon books. During my younger days, those books you mentioned weren't available in Bangladesh. But we had the ones of our Bangladeshi writers. Among which 'Dosyu Bonhoor (Robber Bonhoor) by Romena Afaz, Kuasha (Fog) by Kazi Anwar Hossain, Masud Rana by Kazi Anwar Hossain etc. were my favourites. I am sorry, I'm so unfortunate to share your favourite readings in younger days. Good luck!
@veejay19 (3589)
• India
24 Jan 10
hello mitra, kemon accho? bhalo? Since i was born during British times there were plenty of books written by English authors available then, thats why i could enjoy all the old classics. but i am sure you will still find them. All you have to do is go to Amazon.com and suggest the title or you can find them in bookshops selling english books in your city.
@faridmadeabillion (1127)
• Bangladesh
24 Jan 10
Hello mitra! Ami bhalo achhi! Tumi shareerikbhabe austho achho to? Though I couldn't read those books in the original version during my childhood days, but I was able to read them during my college life when their Bangla versions were available in Bangladesh published by Sheba Prokashani, Segunbagicha, Dhaka. This publication is still selling the Bangla versions of different masterpiece of other languages. Thanks for your suggestions to get them from Amazon but I'm so unfortunate to have been borne in a poor family. That's why I can't afford them right now. Thanks a lot feeling so friendly for me.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
22 Jan 10
I too remember reading cartoon comics as these were purchased for us to read on train journeys. I remember reading Grimm's Fairy Tales and being delighted and shocked at the same time. This led me to search out other fairy tale books from the library. I have an idea I discovered the Narnia books when I was young but only read the first one as I could never find the others. I also loved the "William" books. I read all the required school reading books and as a teen fell in love with Mary Stewart. She writes action, adventure & romance stories set in little villages around Europe. I still read her today.
@veejay19 (3589)
• India
24 Jan 10
My dad bought me Grimms fairy tales and also Hans Christian Anderson when i was around seven years old and i was completely fascinated by theose stories. I also loved Gullivers Travels and also Mark Twains books in which my fav character was Huckleberry Finn.Thanks.
@celticeagle (158876)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Jan 10
Nancy Drew Mysteries, book about horses. I went to the library all the time and usually it was either a few Nancy Drews or a stack of book on horses. Some mythology as I grew older and then I started with the romance and true crime. They really took me over and I love a good historical romance. Oh, I read my share of comics too. Wore out my copy of 101 Dalmations, loved Superman.
@celticeagle (158876)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Jan 10
Oh yea! Black Beauty my mom read to me when I was a like four or five.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
23 Jan 10
I have always been an avid reader since childhood. Just like nowadays, as a kid I used to read anything and everything from Walt Disney comic books to old classics and everything in between. I enjoyed ‘Little Women’ and the sequel ‘Little Women have grown up’ or something to that effect. I loved the book ‘Pollyanna’ and its sequel. I enjoyed Enid Blyton and the Nancy Drew mysteries. I would have loved Harry Potter if it had been written then!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
23 Jan 10
For me, the better question would be which books did I not like to read when I was a child. Seriously though, if someone put a book in front of me I would always read it. However, the ones that I remember being my favorites were all of the Baby Sitter's Club Books and I also really enjoyed some of the classics like Pollyanna and Anne of Green Gables. Being such an avid reader when I was younger also bred me into an avid reader as an adult.
@veejay19 (3589)
• India
24 Jan 10
Reading opens up the mind and takes you to exotic places you have never been but with your imagination you can create a world of you own.I don`t think a computer or the latest Kindle can ever take away the romance and satisfaction that a book can give.Just the feel of a book gives me a great pleasure.
@cindy27 (130)
• Philippines
22 Jan 10
The never ending Cinderella story.. and im fan of mickey mouse short stories before. when im teenager i love collecting and reading sweetvalleyhigh.. but as of now i still love books but what i read most is not a fantasy anymore. I like reading self help books, the most practical and what i really need.
@puppynut (370)
• New Zealand
23 Jan 10
Yes liked sweet valley even if it was all about boys and rich kids. They sound like they had a lot of fun with their friends and it gave me a lifestyle to aspire to when I lived in the country. They did a lot of different things too. I also liked the saddle club, and jill stories because I was horse mad!
@artistry (4152)
• United States
23 Jan 10
...Hi there veejay, Hope you are doing well. My father was an avid reader and I inherited his interest in books. I remember reading a book one night and my parents cut the lights out for everybody to go to sleep, and I found a flashlight from somewhere and got under the covers to continue reading my book. I can't remember a lot of titles, but I just loved reading. Cinderella was a favorite story, the Three Muskateers, Robinson Crusoe. Books take you places, real and imaginery. I will always be a lover of books. Take care.
@puppynut (370)
• New Zealand
23 Jan 10
I liked Watership Down and was a big fan of Archie comics , particularly Chalky. I even named my cat after him! Jonathan Livingston Seagull also hit a cord with a lot of people. It was very inspiring and about overcoming obstacles. I also liked the childhood cartoons a lot more compared to the violent ones of today. Being a hero was about dignity and loyalty and morals, not just violence and power.
@veejay19 (3589)
• India
24 Jan 10
hi puppynut ,during my childhood days, which is before you were born, we were encouraged to read mostly classics inorder to improve our English .Howeer i used to read comics and especially the cowboy Westerns and others too like Looney Tunes besides those i have mentioned.LOL.
@varron (453)
• Philippines
21 Jan 10
In my younger days,i used to read comic books. I'd love reading adventure stories,heroes and villains,fairy tails,magic,ghost stories and any out of this world topics.
When i went to school and I'm already late. I used to go to a store in the front of our school and I used to rent this magazine books.
I also ate locally customized shakes or any food while reading. For me it is fun reading those topics. I found a lot of adventure on it, and I'm very much excited with those stories.
Until today I still want those topics to read, but I quit reading those magazines because of its inability in our area.
I now read several types of books that provides me with a lot of information regarding different matters.
@junil_jk (496)
• India
22 Jan 10
i used to read lots of books too during my childhood! i used to read a wide range of books ranging from novels, all kinds of story books, comics, sports magazines,...almost any kind of books that came my way! to name a few of my favorites...great expectations, treasure island, kidnapped, swiss family robinson, robinson crusoe, dersu uzala, sherlock holmes series,...there are too many of'em! it's really good for kids to read as much as they can!
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
18 Mar 10
I never liked to read , I preferred math. The book I do remember lking was Harry The Dirty Dog. My mom read it to me when I was 4. After that I named Everything harry. We got a new car it was named Harry! as a teen a teacher suggested , to improve my reading skills, that my mom let me read Whatever I wanted. So I ready sydney Sheldon books and Judy Blume's Wifey and Jacqueline Susann.
@Archie0 (5636)
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21 Jan 10
Hello veejay well during my childhood i have always adored books a lot.I feel them as my best friends and even today i have them with me always and everytime.When i was in school i always loved the books which named as
goosebumps, R.L.Stine, secret seven, nancy drew, famous five etc
all these were just the famous books that times and i really enjoyed them a lot. And even today i go for goosebumps and r.l.stine
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
22 Jan 10
hello veejay,
During my childhood days...i like reading comic books and fairy tale stories esp with good drawings.
While during my adult times,i started reading adventure books and also detective stories.
Now...i seldom read books,i prefer watching documentary movies.
If i had time,i read "reader's digest" and Time Mag.
I like documentary and true to life story books.
Have a good weekend ahead dear
@lealuvy2j (1986)
• Philippines
21 Jan 10
I love Archie Comics when I was young. I even read some of my Double Digest Archie books now and I am already 25 years old. lol. 
I was also fond of the Sweet Valley High Series, Nancy Drew, and The Hardy Boys during elementary school even if most of my friends during that time read those RL Stine books. Since I am such a scaredy cat, I did not read RL Stine and read teeny bopper novels instead.
I was also fond of the Sweet Valley High Series, Nancy Drew, and The Hardy Boys during elementary school even if most of my friends during that time read those RL Stine books. Since I am such a scaredy cat, I did not read RL Stine and read teeny bopper novels instead. 
@arystine (1273)
• Philippines
21 Jan 10
I was addicted to Sweet Valley series, Sweet Dreams and Archie comics when I was younger. I consider them as my childhood friends. :-) I also read briefly the Nancy Drew series, Baby Sitters Club, Girl Talk and Fear Street. But what appealed to me the most are the Sweet Valley Twins and Friends.
