Reading Growing Up

liah

Putting a little poll up. I'm not doing a course or research for anything, I'm just genuinely curious about the reading habits of people when they were growing up compared to now.

Did you read growing up? What kinds of books did you read in your childhood and youth? Did your parents read to you, and what kind of books did they read to you (if any)? Do you read now? If not, why?

And to add, do you have difficulty reading or spelling, or did you do well in these subjects at school?

OutlawPete

Enid Blyton ftw.

Secret Seven and Famous Five.

Sometimes I reminisce about solving crimes as a kid and then have to remind myself that I didn't really

Biggins

I read everything from "Lord of the Rings" to "Reflections/Interpretations Of The Middle East Crises".
Had more books at one stage than Playboy mags - but I soon kopped on!

Ruu_Old

Enid Blyton (Famous Five!), Roald Dahl mostly. I work in a library so I have access to thousands of books so I do read quite a bit. My parents read fairytale stories to me for the most part.

Closed ac

Roald Dahl, read all those kids books he wrote, classics.

wireless101

Mine doesn't fit the options....I was not read to, but read a lot as a child, I read and have decent spelling skills.

Theta

I read bits and pieces but not a huge amount as a child. But we always did have a huge amount of books in my house.

I read quite alot now though.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Liah, you make my brain melty

I read when I was a child, Nobody read to me that I can remember, I don't read anything now and I like to think my spelling is somewhat ok. Average or thereabouts.

DazMarz

Roald Dahl was one of my big faves as a kid. Tintin books too. The Hardy Boys... god, memories!!!

Nowadays, I read an awful lot, mostly techno-thrillers, murders, true crime, football biographies, music biographies etc. Nothing terribly mind-expanding!

DrumSteve

i love reading. I love books. probably the reason i dont watch tv. I prefer to use my mind. I still read every day and at the moment im reading a bio of Charles manson. Bit of an odd ball tbh (manson, not me.)

AnonoBoy

I read Naked Lunch when I was 11.

That fact explains things about me to a lot of people

liah

wireless101 wrote: »

Mine doesn't fit the options....I was not read to, but read a lot as a child, I read and have decent spelling skills.

Damnit, I knew I forgot an option.

Kinetic^

Roald Dahl > *

strobe

Where's the "I was read to and read a lot of books as a child, I read but do not have decent spelling skills now." option? I demand rekognishion!

Fizman

I read to my teachers and parents. Very learned was I.

MazG

I loved Enid Blyton (remember the Faraway Tree.. what kind of drugs was she on?!), particularly the boarding school books; Malory Towers and St Clare's.

Roald Dahl was also a favourite, and as I got a little older; Sweet Valley High (I know! :eek: )

rainbow kirby

I read just about everything I could get my hands on as a child, but particularly liked the Babysitters Club, Point Horror and Nancy Drew books. Also loved pretty much anything factual, my parents used to buy me each new edition of the Guinness Book Of Records when it came out.

Caoimhín

I read a lot, still do.

Biggins

Read everything from Enid Blyton upwards.
By twelve I was reading Robert Ludlum books.

ibarelycare

I started reading at a really young age. My dad died when I just turned 5 and he was very weak for the last probably 18 months of his life. All he could really do with me during that time was read, so I could read a good bit by the time I was 4 and I've loved it ever since. I still remember the first book I could read by myself was Cinderella! I gobbled books up as a child and still do. When I was young I'd read anything from Black Beauty to The Babysitters Club books to Oliver Twist.

I was always good at spelling in school and had a reading age well above my actual age (I don't know how schools measure that, but that's what I was told!) My mam always says that I can thank my dad for all that! I can't get to sleep at night without reading first. I even do it when I'm drunk...often I'll have to re-read the pages I read while drunk as I can't remember

dvpower

wireless101 wrote: »

Mine doesn't fit the options....I was not read to, but read a lot as a child, I read and have decent spelling skills.

Same here, but my spelling skills are disimproving, thanks to laziness and spell check.

Ginny

I read anything I could get my hands on as a child, we moved libraries a few times for me to have access to more books.

Snowie

I only really started reading, properly past few years I had no tv in apartment me and a friend where liivng in and bassicly, I read and really enjoyed it and have kept reading.....

Il read anything thats god but what really got me started was harry potter Thats what really opened my eyes to it.

I guess when your smoken a spliff and reading about quiditch, you kinda get sucked in these days
Il read anything that Meet my standered. which is bassiclaly books about... cooking, crim, drug lords or, fantassy magic....I also find young adults easy to rea dcause there not so long and boring I got to page 103 of lord of the rings and gave up its just to much..... But yeah i love to read now adays...

As for my spelling its hit and miss.

Limerickgal82

Oh my god this brings me back lol Famous Five, Secret Seven, Nancy Drew, Mallory towers ( always wanted to go to that boarding school ) Pollyanna, etc. My mother used to buy us the classic books that you had to collect week by week ! Still have them all still love reading !

WindSock

I was read to a little bit, but not much. I read more myself. Mostly comics. Read a few Enid Blytons & Roald Dahls. My spelling skilz were always good. Hover I am hoplessly slow at reading.

I spelled some words wrong there, didn't I?

4zn76tysfajdxp

I used to read a lot when I was a kid, I don't remember ever being read to and I wish I would bother reading a lot more now. Spelling and grammar skills are moderate.

bazza1

Read everything I could get. Treasure Island was the first book I read without any pictures or illustrations. It was one of a series of classic books...like the Three Musketeers etc. My mom bought me one every week, despite the fact we didnt have much money. I owe her bigtime!

Giselle

I read a lot of Roald Dahl, but Enid Blyton was my favourite.

We also had a shelf full of 'Childrens Encyclopedias' (in the bathroom), and an A to Z of How, which I think was the companion to a '70's TV show.

Which explains why I know many random useless facts about things now obsolete.

I usually have two or three books going at a time. One in my bag for odd moments on the go, one by the bed for late night reading and one lying around the kitchen or living room usually.

Grimebox

The word read comes up 61 times on that page

liah

Hmm. Poll results aren't corresponding quite correctly to thread responses.

I know I could've added more options to fine tune but there's six as it is, any more and people wouldn't pay attention at all. There technically should be about 9-12 more.

Antbert

Is anyone going to admit to poor spelling skills? I forsee each post being under severe scrutiny.

Sea Sharp

Roald Dahl, Goose Bumps & The Harvey Boys.

Biggins

Snow-Monkey wrote: »

...Il read anything thats god but what really got me started was harry potter Thats what really opened my eyes to it.

:eek:

Snow-Monkey wrote: »

...As for my spelling its hit and miss.

Fair play, your honest. :cool:

Sea Sharp

I find that the spell check on Google Chrome makes the ability to spell correctly or lack thereof obsolete.

happyfriday

I was read to and read a lot of books as a child, I read now but I don't really have good spelling skills. I don't think that one is there!!

I'm Dyslexic but have always worked hard to overcome it. I have always loved reading and can read at quite a good pace and a high understanding of what I'm reading. But when it comes to spelling a lot of words I just find it difficult, I can always see the words I want to spell but it never comes out the right way. It's hard to explain, most people just call it lazy but I've never let it stop me from reading or writing for that matter, just need spell check and my dad has never looked at me like I'm an idiot, so at 27 I still get him to proof read for me. Have a big problem with numbers as well.

My Dad used to read all sorts to me when I was a kid and I loved to read Judy Blume, her book Deenie was the first book to ever make me both laugh out loud and cry.

It wasn't me!

Used to read like a fiend, to the extent that I was a fairly introverted child. Don't read as much anymore, but still try to keep a few books on the go. College interferes as much as anything I guess. Language skills are good.

Antbert

Biggins wrote: »

:eek:



Fair play, your you're honest. :cool:

... I'm sorry.

I swear that's the only time I'll do it.

Biggins

Antbert wrote: »

... I'm sorry.

I swear that's the only time I'll do it.

LOL I should have tried reading a dictionary as well.
The graphics in the Playboys mags were distracting me though!
Thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it!
(Bit like the pages of the mag!)

liah

GaNjaHaN wrote: »

I find that the spell check on Google Chrome makes the ability or lack there of to spell correctly obsolete.

The problem with this generation is that people rely far too heavily on spell check. For instance, it'll correct the word, but it may not be the right one in context.

"lose" and "loose" are two different things that get mixed up a lot. They're both correctly spelled but have completely different meanings (e.g. lose = to come in last in a race, loose = the knot isn't tight anymore).

Same with your/you're, to/too/two, except/accept, etc.

Just because the spell check says it's right doesn't mean it is right. Brains need to be used, too.

Sea Sharp

liah wrote: »

The problem with this generation is that people rely far too heavily on spell check. For instance, it'll correct the word, but it may not be the right one in context.

"lose" and "loose" are two different things that get mixed up a lot. They're both correctly spelled but have completely different meanings (e.g. lose = to come in last in a race, loose = the knot isn't tight anymore).

Same with your/you're, to/too/two, except/accept, etc.

Just because the spell check says it's right doesn't mean it is right. Brains need to be used, too.

Thats a fare point and very through in my experience.

liah

GaNjaHaN wrote: »

Thats a fare point and very through in my experience.

:pac:

Miss Lockhart

I was taught to read from the newspaper before I started school, but was not read to in any other context. I read a lot myself as a child though.

I was encouraged to read the "children's classics" such as Alice in Wonderland, A Little Princess, Little Women etc - and I did, but I much preferred Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton and Nancy Drew books.

TPD

I was taught to read when I was about 3, I think. On the reading test yokes in primary school I was always about 4 years ahead of average.

On the DS brain training I got 9.something syllables a second, reading aloud. Aww yeah. Dunno if my brain actually takes it in reading that fast though, seems more mirror-like than sponge-like.

Procasinator

i cnt mke out wat dis poll is about?!?!!!!!!!!1

Antbert

TPD wrote: »

I was taught to read when I was about 3, I think. On the reading test yokes in primary school I was always about 4 years ahead of average.

On the DS brain training I got 9.something syllables a second, reading aloud. Aww yeah. Dunno if my brain actually takes it in reading that fast though, seems more mirror-like than sponge-like.

Let the one-up-manship commence!

I didn't watch tv as a child, I just read books. I'd have my weekly library allowance of 8 books gone in a couple days.
I think my mother taught me to read before I was 2, she made cute little mini-books and everything. Of course she read to me a lot as well.
I loved shakespeare a lot when I was small
Loved Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl of course, and countless others I couldn't begin to remember.

beanyb

I read all the time as a child. The Babysitter's Club and Sweet Valley Twins were my favourites, but I did read Nancy Drew, Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl and such too. A family friend told me recently that I turned up at her door with a copy of the Irish Times at age 7.

My parents taught me to read before I started school, and I genuinely believe that as a consequence I found school much easier than many of my peers. I didn't have to put effort into reading, because I was already able to do it, so I could more easily absorb maths, Irish etc. I really do believe that something so simple has served me very well.

I don't read as much as I would like anymore. I love books, but with all the college work I have at the moment I only have time to read books I have to read, rather than books I want to read.

Bolag_the_2nd

I love to read, as a child and as a adult, i was a very quiet child and i spend a lot of time on my own now. I love the Clan of the Cave Bear saga, Jean M. Auel, a real womans read, my spelling is just ok tbh

Antbert

beanyb wrote: »

I read all the time as a child. The Babysitter's Club and Sweet Valley Twins were my favourites, but I did read Nancy Drew, Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl and such too. A family friend told me recently that I turned up at her door with a copy of the Irish Times at age 7.

My parents taught me to read before I started school, and I genuinely believe that as a consequence I found school much easier than many of my peers. I didn't have to put effort into reading, because I was already able to do it, so I could more easily absorb maths, Irish etc. I really do believe that something so simple has served me very well.

You must've been really fun to hang out with as a kid.

Herbal Deity

Poll options are weird and restrictive, can't really vote.

I wasn't really read to very much. I did read a good bit, but was never a complete bookworm.

I don't read books much these days.

My spelling and grammar is good, although it probably was better when I was in school.

I used to be a spelling/grammar Nazi, but have realised recently that being overtly anal about small mistakes in sentences where the semantics are clear is utterly pointless. I laugh at those who get their knickers in a twist over such trivial errors and sometimes even mispell the odd word to irritate them .

SteeveSmith

I'm thinking the second option was supposed to be I was not read to as a child but i read a lot of books I read now and have good spelling?

I would read a book a week as a child, read every few days now.