With apologies to the wonders of modern transportation, I can’t help but think there is no faster way to take a long journey than four simple words—once upon a time.
There is magic in those words. If you don’t believe it, try watching the opening to Disney’s Beauty and the Beast sometime, where a wonderful narrator’s voice sucks you in with a long ago legend told over the still pictures of a story book. Whether or not our books begin with the classic words that begin a fairy tale, our brains still hear them as we sit down to open a book. And by “we” I’m referring to romance readers, readers who believe in the transporting power of story and are eager to undertake that journey again and again through the pages of a book. The magic of “once upon a time” is engrained, a mental portal we go through whenever we open a new book and that excitement for a story begins all over again.
Of course, maybe I’m a very susceptible reader. I willingly suspend disbelief at the drop of a hat, always ready to take a new journey and see where a story leads. Perhaps not all readers are as eager to see the world through pages as I am.
But even the most cynical of readers will undertake that magical story journey every now and then. No matter that they fight the pull of “once upon a time,” sooner or later something will draw them in and lead them deep into a story. For my oldest son recently, it was DaVinci Code. For my youngest, it was Harry Potter. You’ve got to hand it to J.K. Rowling. Nothing captures a six-year-old’s attention like a giant driving out of the sky on a motorcycle.
Thanks to the power of story, I’ve been all around the world and through time to save the world, save the family farm, save numerous rocky marriages. I’ve battled plagues, bad guys and vampires. And of course, I’ve fallen for a few bad guys and vampires. And sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively, it all started once upon a time.
***Is there any one book in particular that began your love of reading? How about a book that started your love of the romance genre? Join me on the boards this week to share your answers and one random poster will win a prize basket of 5 books from a variety of romance subgenres, including a signed copy of Joanne’s The Pleasure Trip.
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The first book I remember enjoying so much that I read it again was Little Women. It had me laughing and crying and years later I’m watching a Friends episode and there’s Joey reading Little Women and getting all upset because Beth is sick and it doesn’t look good. It reminded me so much of the first time I read the book.
by Maureen
on October 13th, 2006 at 6:16 am
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The first book that really took me away was James Clavell’s ” Shogun”. … Japan, history, culture-beliefs, sameris, war, love.. WoW… It had it all!
For romance: Dr Zhivago-Boris Pasternak
Love triangle ( wife/husband doctor(Yuri)/nurse)(Lara), exile- Siberia, war, death, love, history -Russian revolution. It also had a bit of everything!
Both books really stimulated my love of reading!
Linda Howard’s “White Lies” started my category romance reading. I liked how it was told in a diary format. You were constantly guessing through out the book about who were the good/bad guys. Lot’s of action and suspence along with some intense passion. Loved it!!
by Laurie G
on October 13th, 2006 at 6:46 am
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ooh, a prize basket. That would make the winter months ahead something to look forward to. lol
The first romance book I read was Whitney My Love by Judith McNaught. I loved it and went on to buy every book on the shelf from her. After that I moved to Julie Garwood and did the same. I devoured medieval romance. That went on for about a year and then I started reading contemporary. I have to credit Whitney and Julie for getting me through some tough times at work. I would escape away at lunch and go back to my desk happy for a little while anyway. lol
by KimW
on October 13th, 2006 at 6:54 am
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I don’t remember the title of the book but I remember the author.
My mother-in-law gave me several books by LaVyrle Spencer after reading the first book I was hooked. I read all the books she gave me by her, returned them. She gave me the rest she had of hers by that author. I read all those. I looked online made a list of all the books by LaVyrle Spencer, the ones my mother-in-law didn’t have I went to the library and checked out. At the time I couldn’t find them any place, she isn’t writing anymore. Now I see them all over. After that she turned me onto Dorothy Garlock, Johanna Lindsey, Nora Roberts. From there I just took off, I started looking online at all the different types of romance books there were. My mother-in-law has created a monster. :twisted: I can’t seem to go shopping without buying a romance book of some kind. 
by Tammy G.
on October 13th, 2006 at 7:04 am
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The first books I remember that transported me from everyday life to another place were the series of The Borrowers when I was grade school. If you’re talking romances, I don’t remember the first one I read — I think I was probably in 9th or 10th grade. But after reading that first one, I had to read more. 
by Cheryl S.
on October 13th, 2006 at 7:20 am
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I can’t remember which book started my love for the romance genre, but I can remember which books got me hooked to read romances in the English orginal. Dara Joy’s Mine to take (very eyecatching cover) & Susan Carrol’s Winterbourne. Those books started my addiction more than 8 years ago.
by Danny
on October 13th, 2006 at 7:28 am
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I have loved reading for as long as I can remember. If there is one book that was pivotal in encouraging that love further, it would be Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I read that at age eleven and it really influenced my continued love of the written word. :grin:
by Zara
on October 13th, 2006 at 7:40 am
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I have always loved reading books. My first romance book was written by Caroline Cortney.
by Minna
on October 13th, 2006 at 7:56 am
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I have been an avid reader since I was a child. My first romance books were Harlequin Presents by Penny Jordan and Anne Mather.
by Crystal B.
on October 13th, 2006 at 8:14 am
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As a child, Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden, Little House on the Prairie books.
by PAT L.
on October 13th, 2006 at 8:45 am
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I had watched the movie version of the book “Follow the Stars Home” by LuAnne Rice and really enjoyed the story. I had never heard of the author before (yeah, I have obviously been living under a rock!! :) ) and went to my local library to read many of her other books. This lead me to many many authors and hundreds and hundreds and thousands of more books…LOL!
by Kathleen
on October 13th, 2006 at 9:17 am
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Oh this is fun:smile:. LaVyrle Spencer’s name always comes up when I ask people about either their favorite all-time romances or what hooked them on romance. And Pat, we read all the same books growing up. I have my Nancy Drew books in my hallway bookshelves– Trixie is there too, although I don’t know what happened to my Little House books. My favorite Nancy Drews are the oldest ones. I have a few with covers from… the forties maybe? Could Nancy be that old? I know the outfits are very vintage looking. It’s fun to see how she changed over the years.
Laurie, I’ve never read White Lies, but now I’m curious! I love Linda Howard too.
Keep em coming! This is great stuff. I’m nodding my head at all the posts… it’s a fun walk down memory lane.
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I used to read the HQ (Presents, I think the line was called) with the authors like Violet Winspear and Anne Mather. My best friends grandmother used to give them to us as she finished reading them. I thought they were the best thing ever! Then when I was like 13 or 14 years ols, a freind gave me a copy of Rosemary Roger’s “Sweet Savage Love” and it rocked my world!!
I’ve been hooked ever since.
by Angie T
on October 13th, 2006 at 10:00 am
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Geez…I can’t spell today!
That should be OLD and FRIEND, not ols and freind!
by Angie T
on October 13th, 2006 at 10:01 am
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Is there any one book in particular that began your love of reading? I’ve always liked to read. I started reading Fear Street and Nancy Drew books.
How about a book that started your love of the romance genre? My aunt gave me my first romance novel. I still have it. I can’t remember the author or the name of the book, but I can remember the cover.
by Amy S.
on October 13th, 2006 at 10:28 am
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I don’t really remember which book started my love of reading, since I’ve been reading books for so long…nor do I remember which book started my love of romance. But, I do remember a young adult romance novel that has still stayed with me. It was the Kissed by an Angel trilogy by Elizabeth Chandler. At that time, it was just the book I needed. I was still going through my parents divorce and this book had love, sadness, family, friends and something else I really needed, a happy ending. I think that’s why romance is my favorite genre…there’s so much love and there’s always a happy ending :-) My original copies of the three books were passed on from one friend to another and unfortunately I never saw them again. But I was happy that they were actually enjoying my book and passing it on. Thankfully, though, one day I found the trilogy in one book and bought it. So now, years later, I still have it on my bookshelf and go back to it from time to time.
by Ali
on October 13th, 2006 at 11:10 am
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Stephen King and Dean Koontz started my love of reading. They both really knew how to transport a reader into a very scary world.
My first romance was Honest Illusions by Nora Roberts. I can still vividly remember the story and even soem of the dialogue, it affected me that much. She will always be to me the best character writer. She possesses a deft hand at creating memorable people that are so very real. The Born In series is still one of my favorites. I read only paranormal and fantasy now, but Nora still takes up three of my book shelves!!! :mrgreen:
by Vivi Anna
on October 13th, 2006 at 11:46 am
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my aunt had roamnce novels and gave them to me and it began from there. i am hooked !!:grin:
by KIM H
on October 13th, 2006 at 12:13 pm
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I think it was Little House in the Big Woods that started me onto my love of reading. The life that was portrayed from that time could very well have been the difficulties of life on a different planet, it was all so new and fresh to me.
by Little Lamb Lost
on October 13th, 2006 at 12:28 pm
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I’ve been reading for as long as I can remember. I loved Little Women! Then I read Gone With The Wind and that is my all time favorite. After that I read Phyllis Whitney, Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, Rosemary Rodgers, Kathleen E.Woodiwiss and many, many more!
by Carol
on October 13th, 2006 at 12:42 pm
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My granddad loved to read and passed that love on to his children and grandchildren. I was lucky enough to live with him and remember him reading to my sister and me before we were old enough to read ourselves.
by Susan
on October 13th, 2006 at 1:10 pm
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My love of reading began with a Shel Silverstein book…The Giving Tree. It is the first book that I remember reading on my own. My love of books continued with The Sweet Valley series, Babysitter Club series, Little Women, and many other books. When I was 13 or 14 I discovered romance with a Julie Garwood book (For the Roses) and haven’t stopped reading romance since.
by Jennifer Y.
on October 13th, 2006 at 2:08 pm
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My love for reading started at a early age too. Judy Blume’s books got me started then into my teen years I quit reading that much. In high school I had a Sci-Fi reading class and read almost all of Ray Bradbury’s books. Then came Wuthering Heights my first romance book.I ventured into the darkness with Stephen King books and was totally freaked out by The Stand. Once again I quit reading until my sister gave me a book from Karen Marie Moning,Kissing the Highlander,and I was hooked,I then reread Wuthering Heights and appreciated it so much more,so I read Charlotte’s Jane Ayre and almost all of Jan Austen’s books. I read all genres now and I only wished I could read faster to keep up ith my TBR pile,it seems to never go down,lol.:lol:
by Dena
on October 13th, 2006 at 2:16 pm
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I can’t remember the name of the book but I picked up a Lurlene McDaniel book at a school bookfair that got me hooked on her books. Later my mom started telling me about the romances that she was reading and I was curious about them so she sent me a couple. She also gave me a stack of True Stories magazines. I loved them so much that now I get my own romance books except of course when mom is feeling generous and overwhelmed and starts sending more of her books. I do remember though that it was Keri Arthur’s Full Moon Rising that started my love of the vampires and werewolves.
by Billie
on October 13th, 2006 at 2:21 pm
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LaVyrle Spencer and Johanna Lindsey were among the first romance authors
I read and enjoyed very much. I, of course, don’t remember the names because
that was many moons ago, LOL. I then got hooked on Sandra Brown, especially her Texas Trilogy-loved them.
Probably the first book that got me started in reading was ‘Heidi’; oh I loved reading about her and her Grandpa in the Alps, a faraway place known only
to me by the book and it’s words.
by Robyn
on October 13th, 2006 at 2:32 pm
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Treasure Island by RLS started me on my love of reading. I don’t remember my first romance book,but I think it was by Barbara cartland.
by Estella
on October 13th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
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My first romance novel was one I found in my mothers bookshelf. Can’t remember the title, but I’m pretty sure it was by Danielle Steel. After reading that one I was hooked! I also remember reading alot of Belva Plain books.
by Marie
on October 13th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
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Hmm… I always seem to have been reading, back to the days of Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Bobsey Twins and Sweet Valley High (those were probably my first romances).
My first adult book was “Around the World in 80 Days”… I think I was in about the 4th grade when I read that.
I know that I read some Danielle Steel in high school, but I really didn’t come to romance until a couple years ago (roughly 4 years). I think it was a Kat Martin book (”Hot Rain”) that hooked me.
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Danielle Steele’s books started me on romance books, then I went into Sandra Brown and Diana Palmer and had to read every single one of their books that I could find.
by Helen Mac
on October 14th, 2006 at 7:48 am
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The first books that grabbed my attention when I was young were Judy Blume & Beverly Cleary books. I loved the stories and the characters were so real. In my teenage years, I read the Sweet Valley High series, which then led me into Harlequin romances and today I read everything!
by Sandra M.
on October 14th, 2006 at 1:30 pm
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What a wonderful prize! Count me in.
I also loved Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary books. My mom steered me onto those authors. Now I read rom suspense and suspense.
by Karen T.
on October 14th, 2006 at 2:27 pm
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Ooh a basket of books - what could be better?
I started reading the traditional books as a child, Nancy Drew, Judy Blume and grew up to enjoy Sandra Brown, SEP, Suzanne Brockmann. My first romance book I think was either by Debbie Macomber or LaVyrle Spencer.
by Joanne V.
on October 14th, 2006 at 3:32 pm
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Sounds like a great prize, count me in.
by Wilma Frana
on October 14th, 2006 at 5:43 pm
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I cant remember what my first romance book was. My daughter passes along books to me when she is done reading them.
by Helen L.
on October 14th, 2006 at 7:40 pm
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I really cannot remember either what my first romance book was. But loved Wuthering Heights, Little Women and esp. love mystery books.
by Rose G.
on October 14th, 2006 at 9:50 pm
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The first books that I remember loving were the Chronicles of Narnia and especially anything my Lucy Maud Montgomery. I loved the Anne of Green Gables series but my favorite were the books about Emily and The Blue Castle. I used to reread those books every year.
by Lauren
on October 15th, 2006 at 3:40 pm
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I love books about horses, since I am a horse nut. Cant remember the first ones I read.
by Lori D.
on October 15th, 2006 at 5:29 pm
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I can’t remember which book was the first one, but I know that some of the early authors I read that started my love of reading are Judy Blume, Phyllis A. Whitney, and Danielle Steel.
by Sue A.
on October 16th, 2006 at 7:23 am
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Speaking of horses, Lori, Black Beauty was an early fav for me! I vividly remember not being able to put that book down.
I’ve enjoyed this thread! Thank you to everyone who posted and Angie T, I zipped you a private email. Congratulations! You’re the winner of the prize basket of books. :grin:
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Big congrats Angie!
by Danny
on October 16th, 2006 at 10:48 am
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Congrats Angie.
by Robyn
on October 16th, 2006 at 12:16 pm
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wtg angie
by KIM H
on October 16th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
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You lucky dog, Angie. Congrats and enjoy.
by Pat L.
on October 16th, 2006 at 1:02 pm
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Oh WOW!!! That is so cool! Thanks so much ya’ll!!
And Thank you, Joanne!
by Angie T
on October 16th, 2006 at 1:08 pm
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Congrats Angie!
by Carol
on October 16th, 2006 at 1:54 pm
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congrats Angie
by Dena
on October 17th, 2006 at 11:38 am
