Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.
Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of their bloggers over at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join.
The topic for this week is: Top Ten Top Ten “Gateway” Books/Authors In My Reading Journey
Simply said – this is a list of books and authors that got me into reading. Reading a certain genre, reading a certain way… you’ll see what I mean 🙂
- Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (author of the Alice series), Francine Pascal (original author of the Sweet Valley franchise) and the Sabrina the Teenage Witch series. Also – Ann M Martin (creator of the Baby Sitter’s Club).
These are the books and authors that got me excited about going to the library. I’d go every second week with my mother and siblings and I’d run straight for the section that housed these titles.
I can remember the first time I heard of this book. I was 11 years old and my best friend at the time was showing me her copy. We were in year seven in primary school sitting outside the classroom before school catching up after the weekend. It wasn’t until a year later that I read this book for the first time and I adored it. I’ve read it many times since then and still enjoy it despite being twice the age I was when I first read it. This book and author got me to fall in love with Aussie authors with novels set in Australia. (also… just checked my shelves. Am shocked that I don’t own a copy!)
Before reading HP, I never kept track of series. I’d read whatever was out then move on. But this series made me understand the pain of having to wait between instalments but also the fun of belonging to a fandom. I read and wrote some fanfiction to try and deal with the wait and it’s one of the first books/series that I got involved with discussing with other people who had read it.
Before I’d read these books, I’d seen the costumes and heard the word but didn’t quite understand what it was. These books showed me just what steampunk was and why I should want to read it.
I love young adult fiction but I also ADORE paranormal romance and urban fantasy which is more adult in nature. These series are some of my favourites and really got me interested in the genre. I devour these types of novels now and am thankful that I discovered these kinds of books.
Before reading this book and the other Tudor stories, I never read Historical fiction but this book got me into it. It’s not historically accurate but I like the drama and suspense that’s created.
I didn’t even know sci-fi futuristic fairytale retellings were a thing but this book got me into them. I love how she keeps the bare bones of the stories I’ve grown up knowing with new twists and settings. This book is why I now read fairytale retellings.
I can’t count. I have no idea what I’m up to but this seems like a good place to stop. Let me know what your gateway books/authors are.
I posted a different Top Ten Tuesday this week (what can I say? I’m a rebel). When I eventually post my gateway authors, I think the only one we’ll have in common is J K Rowling. I expect to see Harry Potter on a lotttt of lists. I love how diverse everyone’s reading tastes are, and TTT always gives me SUCH good recs for my TBR, as if it isn’t long enough already 🙂
I’m not surprised Harry Potter is on your list 🙂 I think it will be on many this week. I have the Philippa Gregory Tudor series on my list as well. I particularly liked The Constant Princess.
Babysitter’s Club books were so great. 🙂 I really need to get on the Cinder train and read it. I have the books to read, sitting happily in a pile, I just haven’t had the chance to do so yet.
My TTT
HP definitely introduced me to the world of book fandom and also was the first series that I had to WAIT for the books to come out!! That was tough…. and so fun at the same time 🙂 I also loved Sweet Valley High and BSC… and I was obsessed with Phyllis Reynolds Naylor’s Witch series. Great list 🙂
My TTT
Sweet Valley and BSC, yes!
I loved The Sweet Valley High books – I remember going to the library, borrowing like 20 of them at once, and spending the weekends reading those books. SO GOOD. I kind of want to pick some of them up again just to see whether I would like them as much.
I haven’t read Looking for Alibrandi, but my film lecturer talked about the film and I kind of want to read the book and see the film now.
I keep seeing The Lunar Chronicles on several lists this week and I don’t understand why I still haven’t picked those books up.
I loved the Alice Books and the Babysitter’s Club! Great list!
Melina Marchetta started my love affair with Aussie authors. I absolutely love her. JR Ward’s BDB novels, however, started my love for UF Paranormal. Love her men. 🙂
Me too! Had to rush out and buy The King (BDB#12) this week.
How could I forget about Phyllis Reynolds Naylor? I loved her Shiloh series and the Bessledorf Mysteries – especially The Face in the Bessledorf Funeral Parlor. Good times, indeed. Soulless was the first steampunk book I ever read an it was totally awesome.
I’ve not read Shiloh or the Bessleforf books. I think I’m going to have to see if my library stocks them!