Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday "Gateway" Books and Authors (April 1)

Top Ten Tuesdays is a great weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where you get to share fun book related topic top ten lists. It is also another great meme for finding great new books, authors and blogs! 

This week is 


Top Ten “Gateway” Books/Authors In My Reading Journey


Early on I really came into being a reader by reading the American Girl series books and the Nancy Drew series books. I loved both of these series, and devoured all of the books. I have great memories of reading these, in fact I still own a box of all the Nancy Drew mystery books which I of course collected and read all of. 


Gail Carson Levine was also an author I found while still quite young, I can still remember reading Ella Enchanted for the first time (still have my first copy that I got through a Scholastic Book Order in fact). Love her Fairy Tale retellings and her spunky heroines! - and really miss Scholastic Book Orders, can't they make those for adults?!

      

I hope most of you will recognize the wonderful work of JK Rowling - the Harry Potter series. I loved these soooo much, still have all of my original copies - and an additional set with the new covers! Magic, mystery, lovable characters, midnight releases - these will always hold a special place in my heart as they took me from Elementary school all the way through College.

        

Tamora Pierce - love her books! I have read and reread them, the Alanna or Song of the Lioness series being my absolute favorite. These books were another that made me truly love reading, especially fantasy books.

    

Philip Pullman had two series that I loved growing up reading - the His Dark Materials series and the Sally Lockhart series. I remember both being amazing and very addicting, in fact I've been meaning to get around to rereading the Dark Materials series.

   

Ahhh Redwall, another series I need to reread and one of those series that really appeals to both male and female readers of various ages. I truly loved these as a younger reader, and spent hours devouring each new book.

   

Eileen Cook is an author I really love for both her YA and Chick Lit Fiction. I have really enjoyed everything she's written, and she is an auto-buy author for me that I still enjoy. (In fact, I just received a copy of her newest book Year of Mistaken Discoveries, a YA novel, in the mail).

   

Meg Cabot is another author I love for both her YA and Chick Lit novels. I love her Heather Wells and Boy series, and also enjoyed her YA books: Being Nicki series, Avalon, and Jinx. She's also another author that to this day is on my auto buy list and who I really enjoy rereading countless times.

   

Shannon Hale is another very talented author on my auto buy list. I have enjoyed both her YA and Adult Fiction offerings - though Goose Girl (YA) will always be my favorite. No matter how many times I read it I still love it. Dangerous is her newest offering that released.


Finally, Sarah Dessen is a YA Contemporary author that really kept me reading throughout high school and who's books I still adore. They are the perfect pick me up reads, and I always find them charming.

How about you what are your "gateway" books and authors?
 Please feel free to comment and link up so I can visit your Top Ten!


Jenn
 Tale of Two Doxies


11 comments:

  1. Ahh, the American Girl books! I don't think I could ever read those. I remember reading the Meet Molly (my doll), but I really can't remember reading more. I guess I wasn't as interested in the history back then.

    Here's my Tuesday post

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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    1. I had Kirsten and I loved the American Girl books, I remember collecting them when I was younger. I guess I was a bit of a history nerd even then lol - probably could have called my love of historical period pieces and the History Channel. Thanks for stopping by :)

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  2. I love your post! Books like Nancy Drew are so timeless I love it! My 13yo just discovered Sarah Dessen and really enjoys her now. Thanks for such a great list today!

    Kristalyn @ The Sarcastic Palmtree
    My TTT

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    1. Thank you :) I still have a special place in my heart for Nancy Drew, I tried to get my little sister to read those. She's 14 now, and I have just introduced her to Sarah Dessen and some other great YA authors. Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. I am seriously flailing with you inclusion of the American Girl books! So amazing! I was all about them in elementary school. I had Kirsten and my sister had Molly! Great list.
    Cassi @ My Thoughts Literally

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    1. :) Another Kirsten, I also had Kirsten growing up. My little sister (who is 14 years younger than me) had one of the fancy just like me American Girl dolls. I love those books, I still think they make the perfect gift for elementary age kiddos - thanks for stopping by!

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  4. I totally forgot to include Nancy Drew (and Hardy Boys). Gosh, I was such a mystery addict when I was a kid. LOL. Eileen Cook's books look interesting. I'll be checking out her books as well as those of Sarah Dessen. Thanks for dropping by my TTT post :)

    Camille @ Girl meets Books

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  5. I discovered the AG books later in life. I still love them.

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  6. How could I forget Nancy Drew!
    I've nominated you for a Liebster Award! http://hotteaandagoodbook.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/liebster-award/

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  7. Harry Potter made my list too, it's my favourite series of all time and the ultimate gateway book for me. I also had His Dark Materials on mine as well, I adore Philip Pullman and that series is so unique. Great list, thanks for stopping by my TTT :)

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