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I've been creative writing all my life, though with various haitus(es) along the way. IFrom 2010 I started this blog and enjoyed sharing writing and other information with everyone. illness and bereavement supplied the more recent hiatus.

Sunday, 24 July 2011

First Adult Book Read Blogfest

LINK: Hosted by Heroines with Hearts

Post your entry on blog 24th/25th July.




I had always been a fairly slow reader and I'd read lots of adult books for Eng Lit courses at school like Thomas Hardy and John Steinbeck or one's recommended to me by my mother, like Lynne Reid Banks.

However, Margaret Drabble’s 'The Millstone'
was the first adult book I chose to read for myself.
At 17 years old and in just 4 hours I'd read it from cover to cover. A record for me.


Rosamund Stacy is a Cambridge University graduate whose parents have instilled socialist and puritan ideas and values within her. When the loss of her virginity leads to an unplanned pregnancy she takes the important decision to assume responsibility and become a single mother.



I read it again a few years ago and I still love it.

Of course I've just realised I read and adored the James Herriot series when I was 14yrs, but hey, The Millstone represented an epiphany for me, so that's why it stood out in my mind.

24 comments:

  1. Hmm...why haven't I heard of this book?

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  2. Looks like a good one! I hadn't heard of it, either.

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  3. Lovely!!!!! Yay for a fun blogfest! My first adult book was, ahem, Jackie Collins's Lucky. LOL! take care
    x

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  4. Hi,

    Hee hee, I read good girl books, too, but chose to go for naughty adult reading! ;)

    I've read MD as well, but for the life of me I cannot remember one single character. Oh lordy, perhaps it's time to dig them out. :o

    best
    F

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  5. I've read some of Margaret Drabble, but don't recall this one.
    It seems that many of us have one book which stands out in our minds, not necessarily the first adult book we read, but the one which made the most lasting impression on us.
    Thanks for taking part in the HWH Blogfest!

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  6. I've not heard of this book before. I shall add it to my wishlist. My first adult read was The Stand by Stephen King. At 997 pages, it took me a while!

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  7. I believe Terry Brooks was my first adult author. I must've been about eleven or twelve at the time.

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  8. Okay, not only is this Blogfest fun, but it's going to add a whole bunch of books to my TBR list.

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  9. It's something when we can read a book separated by decades and still love the experience.

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  10. Wow, sounds like a book I'd love. Oh my reading list is growing so large today :)

    ........dhole

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  11. So many books I missed. Lots more to read!

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  12. I've never heard of Margaret Drabble or her book before!

    I think a book by James Herriot was one of the first adult books I picked up; though there might have been something before that.

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  13. Great choice! I haven't read them, but they are definitely being added to my TBR list!

    Love you blog! :)

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  14. I have not read this one - looks interesting. ;-) I just posted my own response to this blogfest.

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  15. Oh, I forgot about James Herriott. Loved his books. I've never read this one, but it sounds great!

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  16. I haven't read or heard of this one, but it will have to go on my "to read" list. This is definitely a fun blogfest.

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  17. I've always been a slow reader too, dang it!

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  18. I think it is so cool that you remember your first adult book that you read. I have racked my brain for awhile but I don't know. I guess that it did not impact me as I had hoped.

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  19. I can see, by your description, why The Millstone would appeal to a young adult reader looking into the adult world. Those topics are accessible.

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  20. The first adult book I ever read is likely to have been a classic at school that I was made to read. I have no clue what it was, though I do recall a friend introducing me to James Herriot and I do vividly remember reading The Millstone, not least because my mum was cross I prefered it to the one she recommended: The L Shaped Room!

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  21. Interesting how so many of you have not heard of this novel. I have no clue how I came across it myself, though.

    Old Kitty I'll have to try Jackie Collins' Lucky myself ;O)

    Alex, I've not heard of terry Brooks, maybe an author my hubby has read?

    Milo, I'm still a relatively slow reader. The millstone was a one time fluke I guess!

    Thanks Amy :O)

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  22. I haven't heard of it but it sound fantastic!

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  23. My epiphany book was The Once and Future King by TH White. I read it as a senior in high school (it was assigned) but it was the only book that I didn't need the cliffnotes for!

    I remember thinking, WOW. A book of this type can be good!

    Shelley

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  24. Wow, it's hard to say what my first adult book was. Sometimes the lines of what was adult vs. Young adult back then are blurred. I can say probably my favorite adult book is the Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. Though for much of it the MCs are young girls! LOL

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