When We Were Kids . . .
July 15th, 2010
in
Musings
. . . we read some of the greatest authors ever to put pen to paper. And they took us to the most amazing places, wouldn’t you agree? What I’m wondering today is, what was the location that enchanted you most? Oz? Never Never Land? Narnia? Or, perhaps, some other wondrous place I haven’t mentioned? Let me know, will ya, and also tell me why that spot, above all others, still fascinates you to this day…
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July 15th, 2010 at 10:08 am
While I loved Narnia (my sisters and I acted out scenes), I have to say the book that “did it” for me (and it wasn’t even really a story – just a poem) was Jabberwocky.
I spent hours scribbling strange little creatures, plants and landscapes in notebooks after that poem, and imagining this knight who was (in my head) brave and young and willing to fight impossible creatures to save the day.
It’s epic, as my son would say, and inspires the imagination.
July 15th, 2010 at 10:55 am
For me it would have to be Shangri-La from the book Lost Horizon by James Hilton. it really spoke volumes to me because it was a place of peace and traquility.
It was also a place were you could live a VERY long time and still look your best. A place were all you really needed was to breath to stay alive and you didnt have to worry about the “outside wolrd” because it would never effect you.
It was a utopia… and it was very beautiful.
July 15th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
It would have to be Hogwarts for me. No matter how many times I read the Harry Potter books there was always some new spell or crazy invention that I missed the first time I read it. When I have kids that will be the first series I read to them, just like it was for me.
July 15th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Do I have to pick one? I’ve never really been able to do that.
Hogwarts, Middle Earth, Serendipity (from those thin books that taught you morals), and the worlds of Dragonlance and Anne Bishop’s Black Jewel trilogy. And Avalon. And Atlantis.
But when I was really little, I was more taken by fantasy shows than fantasy books. I practically lived in Pony Land or frolicked with Rainbow Brite.
July 15th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
I have to agree with Caitlin, JK Rowlings world was the one that really stands out for me. Its probably the thought of roaming around the castle, discovering all the mysteries and magic!
July 15th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
When I was a kid, I read a book every day — couldn’t sleep, from age 4 onward, unless I had read *something*. I skipped around a lot, bewildered as to why the adults thought there should be a difference between fantasy and science fiction and mystery and any other sort of adventure, but the one setting that drew me back most frequently was Diane Duane’s novel _So You Want to Be a Wizard_. I must’ve worn out two libraries’ copies of that book, over the many years until I found a copy of its sequels. Twenty-seven years and nine books later, it’s still the setting I’m most likely to get lost in: a reality where being good at reading //matters//, where there’s as much to admire in a child who stands her moral ground as there is in an adult who admits he doesn’t know how to fix the world.
One of the things that bothered me in each Harry Potter book, for example, was that the kids weren’t supposed to have any power over their own situations, while the adults gave every excuse for refusing to rescue those same kids. In a decent world, I’ve long believed, fruitless misery isn’t inescapable! Just have the courage of your convictions, and //do something// about it.
(Funny: I’m not comfortable discussing how close to 40 I am, nor which side of it, but I still have to read at least one book every day if I want a serious chance of sleeping. Jaz keeps me wonderful company for almost a week now! … and afterward, I usually read short stuff for a few days, to keep the switch to a different world from snapping too fast.)
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
I loved Hogwarts and Gwendalavir (from a french book), but even now, I read more fantasy, SF or Paranormal Romance than others kinds of books.
July 15th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
Okay, I’m going to jump on the bandwagon and agree that Hogwarts is just about the coolest place ever – I’ve lost count of how many times my brother and I pretended that the local college was full of wizards. But my all time favourite is the Napoleonic England in Naomi Novik’s Temeraire books! It’s like real life, but sort of steam-punk. And full of dragons.
July 16th, 2010 at 12:30 am
My imaginary playground was usually either The World Of Two Moons from Wendy & Richard Pini’s ElfQuest or Pern from Anne McCaffrey’s The Dragonriders of Pern. Looking back, I’m pretty sure it was because I was fascinated with the animal/rider bond & their ability to communicate with one another. I was always talking to my pets and it would have been so cool if they could have talked back to me. And who doesn’t love an animal that will be faithful to you and always be there? :0)
Okay, the romance storylines had a little something to do with it, too. I WAS a teenager at the time. LOL. I’m a sucker for a one true love/soulmate. ;0)
July 16th, 2010 at 2:33 am
As for me, I think there were three main worlds – that of Harry Potter, Middle-Earth and dragonriders of Pern.
And when my sister and I were really little kids (like up to seven or so) our dad used to read us fairytales or shorter stories, some with a moral too. We got tons of children´s books at home, mostly WaltDisney stories I think. We really loved it
But what we loved most was when dad started telling us stories about his vacations with his grandparents and little dog when he was about our age
July 16th, 2010 at 2:47 am
I liked Fantasia (from The Neverending Story”), and even though it´s not a children’s book, Otherland (by Tad Williams). I loved that those world were so divers, with so many things and places to explore, different cultures, climates and people.
July 16th, 2010 at 3:37 am
When I was little my mom always tried to read to me and I never wanted to sit and listen. I always wanted to go outside and play or do anything but listen to her read to me. My brother was the exact opposite. But all that changed when Harry Potter came out. Like most of the above comments Hogwarts and the Harry Potter series in general was it for me. It sucked me in and I couldn’t get enough of it. So because of J.K. Rowling and her amazing series now all I want to do is sit and read.
July 16th, 2010 at 7:35 am
When I was little my grandmother had this series of books with all sorts of kids stories, songs, and poems in it. I loved those books. In them was the story of Brier Rose and Grimm’s version of Cinderella. Still today Cinderella is my favorite story ever. And I love to read novels based on the stories from those fairy tales. It is comforting to know that other people can get as wrapped up in 10 or 15 pages from their childhood as I can.
July 16th, 2010 at 7:49 am
The Princess Bride by William Goldman and the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine were what really fueled my imagination when I was little.
July 16th, 2010 at 10:36 am
That is so cool, Karen! I can just see you creating all that art. Hope you kept some!
I felt the same way, Ileana. Such a wonderful spot!
I’m so wishing somebody would recreate that place for us, Caitlin. Disney, are you listening?
Wow, I’d about forgotten Rainbow Brite, Uniasus. Good one!
She did an excellent job creating that world, Sophie, I agree.
How did I never get a hold of that book, Jarissa? I’m definitely going to go out and buy a copy; it sounds amazing!
Me too, Kalimera.
Deenie, I would SO love to visit Temeraire’s world! If only…
I’m right there with you on the soulmate deal, Dawn.
That sounds wonderful, Lenka. Now that my father-in-law is in his mid-seventies we’re trying to squeeze all kinds of stories out of him. They’re just as wonderful as if we were little kids!
Cool picks, Tanja!
What a wonderful testament to Harry Potter, Amber. One of the best series’ of our time, I’m thinking.
Oh, absolutely, Becky. Stories like that inspired me to do what I’m doing today.
Woot! Very different stories, Nicole, but ubercool in their own rights. Love it!
July 16th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
Anywhere that had Dragons, Pern, Jane Yolans dragon riders world. And the Disc World, loved the witches, wizards and death, am on my second copy of some of them
Oh and Bergman is alive, well, living in NZ and two people
see link http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/3924199/Back-on-his-feet-with-robot-Rex
July 16th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Reading wise the books that I still reread about every year or two is Tamora Pierce’s Tortall world. I still love it… As a kid I mixed and matched everything into my own world and made everything an adventure full of dragons, unicorns, fairies, etc.
July 17th, 2010 at 12:50 am
I have to say that the places I most wanted to go were the lands at the top of the Faraway Tree…Thank you Enid Blyton.
July 17th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
I would have to say New Orleans and South Louisiana I love to read regional fiction and being a native of LA makes it all seem the more real to me. I love James Lee Burke and the Dave Robicheaux series. Now that i am all the way up north i love to read about Louisiana it reminds me of home.
July 17th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Fionavar … I love Guy Gavriel Kay’s writing, and the notion of this parallel, primary universe along with the magical, mythical feel of it has always been enticing.
July 18th, 2010 at 5:17 am
I would have to second the motion for Narnia. I would pretend that the creek out beyond my house was like Narnia and the frogs and tree sprites would come and play with me and dance with me. A drainage ditch was transformed into magical waterfall, the pond-ish thing at the bottom, a bottomless crystal pool I couldn’t get tired of swimming in. Even now, I don’t know what was real and what was fake. Maybe I did see fairies after all…
July 19th, 2010 at 2:30 am
I have to agree with Deenie! Naomi Novik’s world is awesome. but other than that Alagesia… from Paolini’s Eragon and so on…. full of adventure, people who dont seem like more and most importantly creatures of other “races” like elves……… but i do like any other fantasy related world….fun!!
July 19th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I loved Madeleine L’Engle’s Murry family series. I wanted to move in with them in the worst way. Especially after I read Many Waters, although I really loved them all.
July 19th, 2010 at 8:59 pm
My favorite is Narnia. Just the majesty of the place and being able to truly have conversations with the animals and mythical creatures. the centaurs were the best…Majestic yet humble, fierce in battle yet could be gentle. Communing in a way with nature like no other. Beautiful…
July 20th, 2010 at 5:29 am
There are so many to choose from.. Pern, Gor, Fionavar, Midkemia and Kelewan, Valdemar, Conan’s Cimmeria, and the Forgotten Realms from AD&D..
So many good memories.. so many traveling companions willing to share their tales with me.. Not to mention good old Earth, and all the adventures of people like Robin Hood, Lawrence of Arabia, Jaz (of course), Hornblower, lie I said.. too many to count.. *Grins*
July 21st, 2010 at 12:38 am
Well, im going back to when i was still in kindergarten…. But i absoloutely LOVED the book ‘The Hungry Caterpillar’ (im not even sure if that’s what it was called, but that caterpillar just went around eating everything).
I remember my mum reading to me when i was little ‘The Adventures of the Wishing Chair’ Which i loved.
July 21st, 2010 at 10:20 am
OMG Penny, that is so freaking amazing I have chills! Thanks for sharing the amazing link–and yay for everyone who will be able to walk again thanks to real-life Bergman!!!
Sounds amazing, Tori!! Another one I somehow managed to miss. Geez, my library sucked!
Faraway Tree…just sounds lovely doesn’t it, Jessica?
Oh, Tonya, now that I’ve been there I totally get what you’re saying. There’s magic there!
I will definitely have to pick that up, laurie.
Narnia! I’m with you, Jennifer. Totally enchanting and somehow just within reach if you only had the right kind of wardrobe in your house.
Exactly, Farina. I used to be so sure that if I looked out of the corners of my eyes just right, I’d catch a fairy dancing in the woods…
Very cool pick, Zita. Glad you mentioned it.
Just so, Nia. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Jaden, thanks so much for mentioning Robin Hood. I read that book repeatedly during my childhood. Absolutely adored those dudes’ adventures!!!!
LOL! Too cool Courtz! So glad you brought those two into the mix as well!!
July 22nd, 2010 at 3:37 pm
I have a very dog-eared copy of Enid Blyton’s Tales of Long Ago. It’s a mix of Tales of Arabian Nights and Tales of Ancient Greece. Of course they’re heavily censored for kid consumption, but all those genies, magic carpets and Gods riding around in chariots were awesome.
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:52 am
It was Narnia when I was younger because of the talking animals (which still fascinates me to no end) and a whole world thr could exist just through stepping through a wardrobe, but currently and perhaps forever more it would have to be Diagon Alley in Harry Potter. I cannot get the image out of my head; of being able to walk down a busy street with the most wondrous and equisite shops. Every time I read the scenes that little bit of yearning rears itself within me and I can’t help but feel it would be the best place on Earth.
July 24th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Pern! I remember being on a daytrip and begging my friends mam to lend me three pounds to buy two of the books. I can still see my mam’s face when we got home and I told her she owed Mrs. M three pound lol. It was years later that I truly realised what it took for her to smile and hand it over… (my dad was a student at the time and they were both out of work). I still have those two books though
July 26th, 2010 at 9:10 am
The first series I ever got into was The Boxcar Children. Now I know that the series was just the same story over and over, but that first one was wonderful and captured my imagination.
Since then I have visited MiddleEarth, Pern, and Narnia. Although I reside at Hogwarts (in the Slytherin dungeon).
July 26th, 2010 at 11:53 am
I read at least one book a week, usually about two. There are only a few places that have come to life for me. One of them is Mid-World. When my journey with Roland the Gunslinger and his Ka-tet in the quest for the Dark Tower came to an end, I felt like a piece of me was missing. Sometimes I still wonder how the whole gang is doing!
Another place that became real to me was Avalon. I read Mists of Avalon so many times that I had to buy a second copy. I refuse to believe such a place doesn’t exist!