What was the first adult novel/book you read, and how old were you?

[Antarcticant]

Inspired by a comment on the 'Rather Dated' thread.

What was the first book you read that wasn't written for children? How old were you and what did you think of it? Did it become a favourite?

Mine was 'Animal Farm' and I was eight. I think it had been mentioned on Radio 4. I was fascinated by it. Orwell went on to become an author I love. I read 1984 in the year in question when I was 10 (everyone was going on about 1984 in 1984!) and gradually worked my way through my mum's collection of Orwell novels.

I also read 'Jane Eyre' around this time and was bowled over by it. I continued to like it well into my 20s, but later become disillusioned with it when it crossed my mind that Rochester wasn't really a very heroic man.

Lord of the rings, I was 8

I remember reading the hobbit in my primary school, maybe year 6?

i started reading my mum Patricia cornwell books and similar from about 12 I think

Animal Farm, Frost in May and The Pursuit of Love - a very long summer at my grandparents’ house when I was about 9. I didn’t see them as ‘adult’ books - just books about children/animals.

My father used get Readers digest Condensed books, perfect for a precocious reader. I was about 5 when I discovered them. I used get up in the middle of the night & use a torch to read. I obviously didn’t understand or could all the words. It was the story I wanted. I think my first may have been ‘How far to Bethlehem’.

Probably Flowers in the Attic (80s child!)

Ah, two x Tolkiens! I think I was 13 when I read The Hobbit but didn't manage to get through LOTR till I was 20 (and then only because my boyfriend at the time was a huge fan and I didn't want to let him down when he lent me his copy!)

I was 13 when I read ‘The secret diary of Laura Palmer’ what a pile of shite.

I loved reading and by the time I was 18 had read many of the classics. I rate my A level English teacher as the main reason for pushing me (in a good way, working class, hard school) as we had to read a book every two weeks. He is an example of a teacher who ‘literally’ changed my life!

I read my mum’s copy of Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy on holiday as I’d finished all my books. To this day I love a Maeve Binchy book.

I know I read 1984 when I was 13. I don't know if it was my first 'adult' book.

My brother and I read Tom Sharpe a lot on holidays but I can't remember the actual ages we would be.

I would have been reading John Wyndham at primary school.

In terms of inappropriate books - Lace when I was 12 or 13 I think. It was passed around a lot of us in school! Also, Flowers in the Attic at about the same time.

I didn't always read rubbish - I read Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice when I was about 11. I am an avid reader still, and still read a good mic=x of ruubish and classics. When I was a teenager I would read anything I could get my hands on - I sed to drive the lovely librarian mad trying to get hold of the very limited yA fiction at the time.

@gogohmm snap. And I still love it. Agatha Christie was a bit of a favourite early on too.

The Cruel Sea when I was ten. Still a favourite.

Same here. I must have been about 14 at the time. There was a lot of hype about it. It was the first novel I read that was not a Classic nor a chidren’s book. Prior to that I’d been reading Nancy Drew mysteries.

It did set me on a path of keeping abreast of the latest releases. I still love browsing the Top 10 paperbacks in Waterstones.

I can't remember my first adult book and age.

I remember reading fay weldon novels when i was 10 or 11, think just finishing primary school. I also remember nicking my mums James Herbert book called I think "the magic cottage" because it said in glowing letters on the back "this is not a fairytale".

I also read the restaurant at the end of the universe. I used to nick my parents books and that was one of dad's. I had already watched the hitchhikers guide TV show.

Another vote for The Hobbit / LoTR! I was probably 9/10.

I found my mum's mills and boon stash when I was 8

Book of short stories by Isaac Bashevis Singer. I was 9, we were on holiday, and I had run out of books. DM had brought it to read. Next one, I think, was Brave New World; I also read Sherlock Holmes and a lot of Agatha Christie.
First ‘classics’ were, I think, Cranford, Morte d’Arthur and David Copperfield when I was 12/13. I also remember a sex and shopping novel being passed around at the same time.

Grown up book as in my mum chose something from her shelves - Diana by RF Delderfield. I was about 13.

After that I was allowed to take books from a specific bookshelf but nothing by Jackie Collins/Sydney Sheldon/Shirley Conran

Smith by Leon Garfield when I was at middle school. I selected this book from the school library.

Fair Stood the Wind for France by H.E. Bates. It was a secondary school text book but adult themes nevertheless.

Falconhurst Chronicles by Kyle Onstott. I started reading these at Secondary School. I think I read the first one on a train from Scotland to London. I was hooked and read the whole series.

Then I discovered novels by Jilly Cooper and Jackie Collins !

Not sure of my age but young - avid reader.
James Herriot books, all the Agatha Christie books , many of my grandmas Catherine Cookson books and many others I forget.
By 15 I was reading Jackie Collins, Sidney Sheldon and jilly copper etc
I don't read now .. not books anyway.

I was 12 when I read Jane Eyre and loved it - I was exactly the right age for it. I'd had to pay sixpence (pre-decimal - worth around tuppence ha'penny) to re-join the library - records were kept on paper and this money was refunded on the next visit as it had been a mistake. We couldn't afford many books as they were a luxury.

The transition from what was on your parents' bookshelf to making your own choices is interesting. The library at my secondary school really opened up my reading world - my parents had plenty of books but I was sensitive about being told I wasn't allowed to read this or that book.

VaddaABeetch My dad used to get the Readers' Digest magazines. Some of them were, ah - educational for an 8 year old.

Exactly all this
I had a young teen penchant for Neville Shute too.
I never read all the Virginia Andrews stuff that my peers loved.

I remember reading Catherine Cookson at 8 & asking what was a Woore , Whore

What answer did you get?