Author Insight: First Time All Over Again

What book do you wish you could read again for the first time?

"The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen, If I Stay by Gayle Forman, Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, the entire Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty, and Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (that book blew my mind. If you haven’t read it, please do). I’m a voracious reader, so I can’t just name one!" - Lauren Morrill, author of Meant to Be.

"John Crowley’s Little, Big." - Margo Lanagan, author of The Brides of Rollrock Island. 

"Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell. The writing and story and emotion blew my mind. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I want that feeling again." - Dan Krokos, author of False Memory. 

"The Book Thief [by Markus Zusak]." - Martha Brockenbrough, author of Devine Intervention. 

"Today my answer is John Green's The Fault in our Stars. It is just so amazingly perfect." - Joy Peble, author of Anastasia Forever. 

"Probably The Lord of the Rings.  It was really the first time that I so bought into a fantasy that it felt real." - Greg Leitich Smith, author of Chronal Engine. 

"Jellicoe Road [by Melina Marchetta]. Loved the process of discovery." - Kirsten Hubbard, author of Wanderlove.

"Any Agatha Christie book. Mysteries are a totally different experience when you already know who the killer is-- you find yourself scouring for clues that you might have missed, but it lacks the 'aha!' moment of revelation at the end." - Cyn Balog, author of Touched. 

"Holes by Louis Sachar. I read it in one sitting and LOVED it so much I forced everyone I knew to read it. Much of my enjoyment came from seeing how the plot twisted together, and as with The Sixth Sense, I’m not sure it would be as pleasurable to read it a second time. However, that first time was magical." - Dayna Lorentz, author of No Safety in Numbers. 

"I could lie, say something like Go, Dog. Go! But in truth, I don’t have this wish." - James Preller, author of Before You Go. 

"The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. It was the first novel I ever stayed up all night to read. I connected instantly with the characters and, suddenly, I felt less alone." - Katie McGarry, author of Pushing the Limits. 

"On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder was the first novel I ever read. I’d love to recapture the feeling of being completely immersed in a story for the very first time. It was magical." - Sarah Tregay, author of Love and Leftovers. 

"So, so many books but we’ll try to keep it brief for the purpose of this blog…

For Valerie: anything by Ian McEwan, The White Tiger, David Copperfield, The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. In the world of YA,  Before I Fall, A Monster Calls, The Fault in Our Stars.

For Stacy: Wuthering Heights, Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin, The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen, Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger, This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper, Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green." - Stacy Kramer & Valerie Thomas, co-authors of From What I Remember. 

Come back Thursday to find out what book the rest of the authors wish they could read again for the first time. 
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