My Journey through Reading…
I’ve had a long journey with reading. I started out reading or at least being fascinated by books. Of course I read the biggies—See Spot Run… Fun with Dick and Jane… But the books that I really remember grabbing my interest were romance novels. Yup, Harlequin Romances. Back when I started reading there weren’t a whole lot of books that had women as the main character. I read other books but there really wasn’t a lot to choose from. I remember reading the Diary of Anne Frank, at about the age of 15, which was about the same age she was. I didn’t understand for a long time that she had truly lived through such horror. I just knew it was a very sad story where I didn’t understand how there could be such awful people doing such awful things. Then I read Helter Skelter. Another story that shocked me and again I couldn’t fathom that it was a real account of real people. These books though have stuck with me since then. I didn’t read true life books like that again, for a long time.
Then I discovered romances. I liked them because they had a happy ending. Love won out. Corny as that may be, I liked that. I liked knowing that there was going to be something good come out of whatever tragedy had occurred in the story.
I discovered I love being taken on an adventure.
After high school, I found sci-fi/fantasy. I read Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit and several others (Anne McCaffrey, Terry Brookes, etc.) but the one that really grabbed me and held my attention was Stephen Convenant, White Gold Weilder by Stephen R. Donaldson. It took me into another whole world. It was amazing. I waited patiently… or impatiently…. for each book to come out. He could not write fast enough for me.
In the late 80’s, I was introduced to the books of Robert Ludlum and espionage. I fell in love. I read everything that he ever wrote. Since I love to read and he only had so many books out, I found other writers, that I enjoyed – John Grisham, Ken Follet, Clive Cussler, Mary Higgins-Clark, as well as many others but none quite grabbed me the way Ludlum did. Of course along the way, I still read my stories of suspense and romance – Nora Roberts, Judith McNaught, Jayne Anne Krentz, Sandra Brown (another of my favorite authors, who I’ve read everything she ever put out) and many others. I haven’t even mentioned the nonfiction I like to read.
What I’ve discovered is that my taste is very eclectic. I just love to read. If the story and/or the message is good, I’m hooked. I thought all readers were like me and read almost anything they could get their hands on but I’ve learned, that isn’t true. There are several readers who do not stray far, from the one or two genres or areas of nonfiction, they’ve chosen.
How about you, what do you like to read?
The Caspian Wine Suspense/Thriller/Mystery Series
A tangled web of secrets, lies and deceit…
Multi-Award winning author, Maggie Thom. Author of The Caspian Wine Series – Captured Lies (Book of the Month - LAS Reviews and Reader's Favorite Finalist), Deceitful Truths and Split Seconds (Award Winning) – and her other published novels, Tainted Waters (2013 Suspense and Thriller Book of the Year through Turning the Pages Magazine) and Deadly Ties.
Her motto: Read to escape… Escape to read…
"Maggie Thom writes a fast paced thriller laced with romance that keeps the reader interested and on edge!" InDtale Magazine
Hi Maggie, like you I lived to read almost anything I could get my hands on though perhaps not the Harlequin or Mills & Boon novels. Thomas Halfhand or Thomas Covenant books were also a favourite of mine and I loved the Anne McCaffery books on the Dragons of Pern too. David Eddings, Terry Brooks and Dick Francis all grist to the mill but Lord of the Rings was and is my favourite eve now.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
Hi David. It sounds like we have read and enjoyed many of the same books. Very cool. Many hugs back to you. Have a beautiful day.
I also love to read. Have been a huge reader from the get go. Started with Bobbsey Twins, Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames. Worked in libraried from Junior High through College. Had a great source of any book I wanted to read. Loved it. After I raised my family I went back to school and became a library assistant where I again had access to all the books I wanted to read. Not too many genres I don’t like. Thanks for the books you write. enjoy them.
Hi Ada. Thank you. I would think you had/have the best job. It’s funny I never thought of being a librarian as I loved, loved books as a child, teen…still do… Did you find that you still read a lot as a librarian or did it get a bit overwhelming?
Why do I read? For enjoyment and relaxation . . . looking for something that is engrossing and takes my mind away from the everyday. I like mysteries, police procedurals, and even some quirky, odd items here and there which may have a touch (just a touch) of fantasy. I don’t, however, go in for full-blown fantasy or science fiction or swords and sorcerers.
My favorite genre is historical fiction, especially if it involves a mystery. One of my all-time favorite authors is Anne Perry. Her Monk mystery series and Pitt mystery series, both set in Victorian London, are wonderful! Although she is a prolific writer and has quite a number of titles already written in each series, I an spacing them out, mingled among my other reading, to make them last as long as possible.
Two other series I have enjoyed are the Alec Halsey mysteries by Lucinda Brant and the Captain Lacey Regency Mysteries by Ashley Gardner. The Longshot series by Keith R. Baker and the Victorian San Francisco Mysteries by M. Louisa Locke are also quite good.
Random titles which fall into the same general category include Fires of Alexandria by Thomas K. Carpenter; A King Ensnared by J. R. Tomlin; and Olivia, Mourning by Yael Politis. Some of these may be the beginnings of a series. If so, trust that I will be watching and will endeavor to read the other titles as they become available.
Nowadays, so much is readily available both in print and digital format that it is challenging to just sort through it all. I subscribe to some authors newsletters and other services which help me identify some items of interest. I also use the online catalog of my local public library (a 31-branch system with plenty to choose from), and WorldCat. There is so much out there! It is a reader’s dream.
Hi Gary. Thank you for all of those books, I haven’t heard of some of those authors so will be looking them up. I love those kind of books too. Sadly I don’t have as much time as I used to, to read but I do enjoy finding a good book. It is for sure a reader’s dream these days. So much to choose from. Thank you for sharing about your reading journey. Love it.
I have a book with me at all times you never when you have to wait, wait your time etc. I love books that take me on a journey or makes me solve a mystery. If it makes my brain work, then it is my book. Also, I have passed my love for reading to both my children and grandchildren.
I love that you carry a book with you all the time. You are right it is great to read when you have to wait for something. Love that you have passed on your love of reading to your kids and grandkids. That is the greatest gift.