Gateway books/authors
1 April 2014 
This week’s topic on the Broke and the Bookish is: Top Ten “Gateway” Books/Authors In My Reading Journey:
- A fairytale book that I had when I was young. I can’t remember the name of the book but it contained about 10 fairytales including Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast and Rose Red and Snow White. I loved that book and clearly it encouraged my love of this type of story.
- At the same time as the above I had another story book – same publisher and with 10 stories (I so wish I could remember the name of this book!) The stories were all illustrated with simple black and white pencil drawings and I literally could read this over and over again as the stories were all unusual and maybe even slightly scary. For example, there was a story of a young child sat at a table drawing characters. Unfortunately she wasn’t very good at drawing and the people she drew came alive off the page and told her off and chased her for drawing their legs uneven, or eyes different sizes. Definitely an unusal set of stories but I loved them and they encouraged my liking of the bizarre and fantastical.
- Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien- one of the first books that really hooked me on fantasy. With so many great books out there is would be folly not to read fantasy!
- Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell – I mention this because I read it when I was about 14 and loved it, literally couldn’t put it down for about 4 or 5 days – I think it was one of the first stories that grabbed my attention so much that I basically forgot about the world outside.
- Daphne DuMaurier – I love her writing and her book Rebecca became the first book that I dipped into relentlessly and reread on about 4 occasions – a real comfort book.
- Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters – encouraged my love of the classics and made me want to dig out more in a similar vein.
- Arthur Conan Doyle – undoubtedly made me want to read more mysteries.
- Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence – one of the first fantasy books that I read that would be considered grimdark. Gave me a desire to read more stories with flawed anti heroes!
- Neil Gaiman – without doubt brings out my inner child. I love his books.
- Diana Gabaldon and Philipa Gregory who led me to pick up books with a historical/fantasy aspect.
Which books stand out for you as pivotal reads that led you on an unforgettable journey?
Books and travelling with Lynn 
I always love your lists Lynn. You have such great taste in books. Here’s my list.
Thanks for that – your list is great too! I need to mark some of those down on the list.
Lynn 😀
Gaiman opened the door to graphic novels for me….and then shut it for a while as I recovered from the Sandman Chronicles.
Jim Butcher was a gateway to urban fantasy, a subgenre I had ignored until I found him. Granted, I was an adult (in years anyway) when I discovered his work, but it opened a whole new genre to me.
Jim Butcher is a good one for this. However I was into urban fantasy when I started reading the Dresden Files – which I do absolutely love! I’ve just got Dead Beat to read!! Looking forward to it.
Lynn 😀
When I was younger it was Roald Dahl that started me reading.
Growing up a bit more I got into graphic novels through Neil Gaiman and his Sandman Chronicles, and different John Constantine Hell Blazer tales.
Edgar Allen Poe and M.R. James for gothic/weird fiction.
Jane Austen for the classics when I was at Uni. Haruki Murakami was a major source of literary joy as well.
I got into manga through Ghost in the Shell.
Of course, I love Roald Dahl – where is my tiny brain at!
Reading Gaiman’s graphic novels would, I think, probably spoil you for a while??
Love Edgar Allen Poe. Not read M R James but will check that out if you enjoyed.
Still not read Murakami – *drat*
Never read any manga – perhaps I should give it a try. Although stupid TBR!!
Lynn 😀
You could try watching the BBC adaptations of M.R. James’s stories. “Oh, Whistle, And I’ll Come To You, My Lad” and “Lost Hearts” are pretty intense.
Manga, manga, manga. You could try reading “Monster” which is a brilliant crime thriller. There’s “Master Keaton” which is a bit like “Macgyver” and I swear by the sci-fi horror manga of Tsutomu Nihei. One of his stories, “Knights of Sidonia” was adapted into a TV anime which airs this month.
Will go and look for Monster – like the sound of that one (that just sounds weird doesn’t it – but you know what I mean!)
Lynn 😀
Here’s a trailer for the anime:
Watching it reminds me of how much I love that anime!
Excellent!! Jason, thank you..
Lynn 😀
I would have to pick The Hobbit by Tolkien which my father first read to me a chapter a night when I was only very young. When very young I also adored a collection called Classic Fairy Tales which included Cinderella, The Stolen Turnips and The Little Mermaid. I still have it 🙂
The Hobbit – such a good choice. Unfortunately my first experience of The Hobbit was reading it in a class of 14 year olds – not recommended!
I so wish I could remember the name of both those childhood books – I’d love to try and buy copies now. It’s so good that you’ve still got your copy. 😀
Lynn 😀
Great list. Phillippa Gregory got me into reading historical fiction. Jane Austen got me into the classics as well 🙂 I’d say Stephen King introduced me to the horror genre.
Yeah, I forgot about Stephen King – mind you the list is 10 so you have to restrict yourself eventually!
Lynn 😀
I keep meaning to pick up books by Diana Gabaldon and Philipa Gregory. I’ve heard wonderful things. And yikes, I’m late with my Sanderson post. Hopefully tomorrow…
Looking forward to your thoughts on Words of Radiance and so happy you decided to read it.
Lynn 😀