Do you remember what turned you into a reader?

[readsbyarun]

I got this habit since my childhood. I started reading comics in the beginning and slowly I started reading fiction and non-fition books.

[Robert Potter]

For me I think it was video games. I was playing video games well before I considered myself a regular reader. A lot of the first books I started reading were ones based on video games. And then Harry Potter eventually came along and the rest was history...

[lwahls2]

What a great question and forum. It's fun to read everyone's answers. Interesting to see influences on our lives, especially our reading habits.My mom always gave us books to read from a young age. Even as babies we have pictures of my brother and I holding books.

[Bigwig1973]

I grew up in a family who promoted reading because we had all sorts of books around the house. My dad was quite fond of Sherlock Holmes and he also read crime novels. He had relatives in law enforcement so it kind of makes sense. He would tell us fairy tales before bed, most often it was "The Three Bears", "The Three Little Pigs", and "The Three Billy Goats Gruff". He did an excellent rendition of the ogre under the bridge as well as the noises of the goats going over the bridge. But, I probably really learned to like reading at a younger age because of one of my aunt's. She was a special education teacher and when she would take the students places, sometimes I would tag along. Although I don't recall for certain (my family moved when I was 4 1/2), I imagine that she had books and other things for school. She was such a kind woman, very friendly and cheerful and very loving. I don't remember my mother reading that often.

[Essywa]

Am not a bookworm,but I started reading very early and my mom encouraged it by buying me lots of storybooks.

[char8877]

I turned into a reader after failing 6th grade English class. My mother made me read 100 pages a day. I could not do anything else until the reading was done. My interest peaked after reading Little House on the Prairie. I started by reading one book and after time I was asking my mother to buy more than one book.

[maiiii_maii]

I've been a reader for as long as I can remember. I don't really remember which book I've first read but my mom says it's the Bible.

[Hannah_Keos]

From a young age I've struggled to communicate with people and my anxiety disorder dissuaded me from participating in school activities. My mom told that she once picked me up from ACES (after school program) and I was sitting in a corner reading. When one of the workers and my mom asked me what I was doing, I said, "I'm not participating" For someone who was afraid of getting in trouble, reading gave me the comfort I needed for small rebellion. I also excelled in it which allowed me some confidence. Books don't judge and they ask, "Why don't you talk?" "Why are you dressed like that?" or "You should do this, why aren't you?" Books allow me to explore other worlds in safety and now as an adult, they help me understand the real world that I have to confront.

[emidio125]

Curiosity, I have always being a curious person, with a lot of questions. I that was the major thing that got me to read.

[zainherb]

I grew up around books, and my birthday gifts when I was little were usually books.

[Ren_c_13]

There wasn’t a specific book that turned me into a reader, not like I’d remember it anyway because I loved reading from a very young age. The main reason I got my love of reading was all of my family reading to me and encouraging my when I was young. I started reading on my own and loving the adventures that book took me on.

[Kenzy Lilly Pulitzer]

Reading books as a child made me feel part of something bigger.

There was a period when my parents were absent and my grandfather took care of me. It was only the two of us. My grandfather was really strict so I wasn't allowed to go out and visit my friends from school or play with kids in the neighborhood. Books were my only friends; I would immerse myself in a story and forget how lonely I was.

[bre2014]

I struggled with reading as a child because I had trouble focusing and understanding what I was reading. It wasn't until later in years that I discovered there are actually books out there that I can actually understand and enjoy. I've been a reader ever since.

[Varshaa]

I was a part of a writing blog. I was scrolling through Instagram feeds where I found them hosting a book giveaway. So I just entered for name-sake. Fortunately, I won and received 3 books of my choice. I was thrilled and don't want to waste the opportunity. Because a massive number of people entered the giveaway and luckily I won! So that's how I started reading. And I think it's great.

[Priyankaaa18]

At first I wasn't into reading at all. I remember in 9th grade I borrowed a book that one of my friend was reading, I finished reading that book in one day. Before even I realized I was into reading books. That year I didn't read that many books compared to now.