I was going through a stage when I would read a book in a matter of hours. There were a few years in middle school when I would go through two or three books a day. Now, these weren't Dickens or Hemmingway, mind you, because that's never really been my style. I read most of the Sweet Valley High books when I was ten, and then moved on to scarier things - you know, R. L. Stine and then to John Saul and Anne Rice. (Those took me slightly longer, which is what I was looking for - I hate the feeling I get when the book is ending and I won't get to spend anymore time with the characters inside. Since then, I've learned to read a few minutes a day and stretch things out a little.) I was somewhere between R. L. Stine and John Saul when I found L. J. Smith's book, The Initiation.
I can't remember what year it was, but it was the summer time. The third full week in July, the week that my family and our friends go camping by Lake Metonga. We were picking up some last-minute supplies at Kmart, and I ran (as always) to the book section to pick something out. I wanted to take something with me to read. I just knew the fifteen books from the library weren't going to be enough. I don't think I touched those other books for a few days. I read this book, and then I reread it, and then I read it again at least three times. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen in the next book. It was torture, looking for The Captive everywhere my mom would drive me, trying to find it somewhere so that I could keep reading... I finally settled on reading the third book second, because the second was nowhere to be found. Confused? Sorry.
I found these books in a box in my old bedroom on Friday night, and I've read a book a day since then. Well, a book a few hours - I wasn't reading all day long - but I'm finally finished. They're just as good when you're twenty-six as they are when you're twelve.
If you can, find them and read them. It doesn't take very long, and it's worth it.
6 comments:
I read a lot of Christopher Pike - he was like RL Stine but more adult. You know - sex, blood and gore. I loved it.
If you never read RL Stine's "adult" novel - Superstitious - don't. It was HORRIBLE. If you're determined, though, I might own it in hardback. Don't tell anyone, though.
I _loved_ the Secret Circle books when I was in middle school. Went through a phase of reading every L.J. Smith book I could get my hands on (Christopher Pike, too), but that particular trilogy was my favorite. I wonder if it's still in a box in my parents' house somewhere...
I don't know if you've ever read the Dragon Prince and Dragon Star trilogies by Melanie Rawn, but those are my more recent version of "that one book" (or rather, "those six books"). Especially the very first one. I just read it again recently and loved it as much as ever. If you've not read those, I highly recommend them.
Oh god, I forgot about Christopher Pike. I read him in between RL Stine and John Saul, too.
I can't believe RL Stine tried to write an "adult" novel. I might just be masochistic to want to read it...
Oh, Susan! Someone else in the world DID read these books! I've always wondered...
I'm glad I mentioned them. I also found some of the vampire series (first and second book) and a couple from that "Forbidden Games" trilogy, too. I'm re-working my way through them. I agree, though, they were in no way as good as the Secret Circle books.
I'm determined to read the Dragon Prince and Dragon Star trilogies now. Thanks!
PS: Did you read the book(s) she did with the four kids? Sigh.
Ah, the Forbidden Game trilogy. Was that the one with the "perverted crystal"? That made me laugh and laugh as a 12 year-old. ;) Book(s) with the four kids? Doesn't sound immediately familiar, but then again, it has been a while.
I will SO be keeping my eye out for anything "perverted".
The ones with the kids (for lack of better description) were Night of the Solstice and Heart of Valor. Both pretty good, if I remember correctly. (Actually, I own them.)
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