This week’s topic on the Broke and the Bookish is: Top Ten “Gateway” Books/Authors In My Reading Journey:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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!
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters – encouraged my love of the classics and made me want to dig out more in a similar vein.
7. Arthur Conan Doyle – undoubtedly made me want to read more mysteries.
8. 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!
9. Neil Gaiman – without doubt brings out my inner child.  I love his books.
10. 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?