Books you read as a child... Page 17

having been brought up in entire different universe, I definitely read different books, watched different films and cartoons than majority of you.

I read the first Narnia novel around the time when film came out. I read The Lord of the Rings before most people here - in mid 1990s. For example, I saw Wizard of Oz for the first time some time in the beginning of 1990s, and read the book around that time. I did, however, read the localization of the novels by a Russian author (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Melentyevich_Volkov) who created a fairly different world based on the settings of land of Oz.

I don't think anyone knows the Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrid_Lindgren)? Her books were and still are massively popular around these parts.

I loved Winnie the Pooh as a kid, I loved Three Men in a Boat (but after I re-read it as adult, I noticed how much of the book's fantastic humour and historic references had gone over my head I used to read books by R.L. Stevenson, Walter Scott, Thomas Mayne-Reid, Mark Twain, Dickens (The Pickwick Papers!), Schweik by Jaroslav Hashek (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Soldier_%C5%A0vejk) and French writers Jules Vern, Alexander Duma, etc. I discovered Gerald Durrell in my teens as well. Basically a lot of classics, which the strict censorship office allowed to be translated and released...
Oh and I forgot to mention - books in English were next to impossible to come by.

But I still cannot stand Lewis Carol.

I was quite a book worm.

Quote: Marc P @ August 3 2009, 8:06 AM BST

Just Googled that one, might be better than the cover and blurb suggests. Post ot to me if you like I'll read it and let you know!

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I just Googled it myself. I doubt I would have purchased it with that cover! Mine is an old Allen & Unwin edition, from back when they were doing their literary fantasy Unicorn imprint, which introduced me to the likes of Dunsany, Beagle and Cabell.

I had not realised it was the third part of a trilogy, so I doubt I will bother now. If you really want it, I can send it to you.

Quote: WrongTale @ August 3 2009, 9:10 AM BST

I loved Three Men in a Boat

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Me too. I read a lot of unlikely books when I was a kid. Perhaps the oddest was the Collected Plays of George Bernard Shaw when I was bout 12. I was, I suppose, a pretentious little brat.

Quote: Timbo @ August 3 2009, 10:42 AM BST

I had not realised it was the third part of a trilogy, so I doubt I will bother now. If you really want it, I can send it to you.

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No don't worry. Was only kidding.

I remember reading Pygmalion by torchlight under my bedclothes when I was about 12.

Quote: WrongTale @ August 3 2009, 9:10 AM BST

... French writers Jules Vern, Alexander Duma, etc. ...

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*Verne, Dumas

Sorry to appear pedantic.

As a child, I couldn't sit still long enough to get into reading. Same applies today. The last book I read was Peter Wright's Spycatcher - before it was on sale in the UK!

Quote: WrongTale @ August 3 2009, 9:10 AM BST

Schweik by Jaroslav Hashek

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I have The Good Soldier Schwejk on my shelf - but only read it this year. Hahsek led a fascinating life - subversive anarchist and hedonist.

Quote: Marc P @ August 2 2009, 3:51 PM BST

The Eathsea Trilogy

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I want to read that having seen the "Tales from Earthsea" film.

I did not like the Earthsea, although I only managed the first book.
I like fantasy in general, but it has to be realistic (yes, I know - oxymoron). If the magician all of a sudden creates a boat or bread out of nothing, I lose all interest.