Hey everyone! What was the very first book you read by Ray Bradbury? Also, who or what made you read it?

The first book I engaged in by Mr. Bradbury was Dandelion Wine. I read it in 9th grade for english class. Needless to say, I devoured the book, and have been in love with Mr. Bradbury and his novels ever since.

Best,
Samantha

Sam!

Picture it: The Martian Chronicles, high school.

And it's still my favourite book!

Dandelion Wine followed close on its heels and is probably my second favourite.

The Golden Apples of the Sun!

For some reason, this was quite a popular Bradbury title in English classrooms of the early 1970s (and perhaps earlier). Who or what made me read it? Mr McCarthy, my English teacher! Actually, he only made us read a couple of the stories, and I eagerly devoured the rest.

After TGAOTS, for me, came The October Country. This one was read out of pure curiosity.

Like Philnic, the first Bradbury book I ever read was THE GOLDEN APPLES OF THE SUN. It was suggested to the twelve-year-old that used to be me by a junior high school librarian, when I was said I was looking for "something good" to read. After that, I was hooked! Bless that librarian's wise heart...I wish I could remember her name.

After reading Dandelion Wine, I stopped reading for a short time, because in high school, that's not the "cool thing to do". I didn't read anymore novels by Ray (some short stories here and there) until I was in eleventh grade. Not because I didn't love Ray, but because I was never taught how to thoroughly read a book until my eleventh grade english class. My teacher, Mr. Miller, was phenominal in teaching me to "read between the lines" as he put it. I have a lot to thank him for. He was the only person in high school I could sit down with and talk about Mr. Bradbury and his books, it was absoluetly refreshing. Mr. Miller inspired me to reread Dandelion Wine and most of Ray Bradbury's books which have made such a penetrating impact on my life. Mr. Miller, I am sure, will never realize how much he gave to me. Mr. Miller and Mr. Bradbury gave me the love of reading, writing and not being afraid to venture into both. I am now a freshman in college, and read Mr. Bradbury almost everyday. I go to the library, as he did in his youth, and just escape into the wonderful world of Ray Bradbury - a world of fantastic thoughts, nightmares, and foresights into the future.

I do not have a favorite book by Ray, I love them all so much. Each one so different, yet equally profound in their own right.

Best,
Samantha

I must jump in. Phil & Richard: Golden Apples is was! Probably spring of '68 (amazing)! Freshman year in HS, I was advised to get something to read so as to stay out of trouble in a study hall (at the parochial school I attended). I can still recall seeing the paperback as I turned the rotating book rack.

(Scroll down after opening - it was the best image I could find) ~ http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330220452062

All those masterful stories with Joseph (Giuseppe) Anthony Mugnaini illustrations preceding every tale. 40 years later, today I teach with relish countless RB works (ss, novels, RBTh, essays, articles, audios, movies).

What a collection!! The title, of course, from the poem by Y.B. Yates
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Golden_Apples_of_the_Sun

quote:

Originally posted by src89:
I do not have a favorite book by Ray, I love them all so much. Each one so different, yet equally profound in their own right.

"I have four daughters. I don't play favourites with them, and I don't play favourites with my books."

- Ray Bradbury

But I do Ray!

Another Golden Apples tribute is here, from my pal Brian Sibley:

http://briansibley-exlibris.blogspot.com/search?q=golden+apples+of+the+sun

I can't be sure of the first story, but I think the first Bradbury book I read was "R Is For Rocket".

Mine was ILLUSTRATED MAN, recommended to me by a teacher when I was in high school. I was instantly entranced with stories like 'Kaleidoscope' and 'Long Rain'. I read quite widely, but nothing before or since has compared with the thrill of discovering Bradbury (particularly as he is relatively less-known in my country).

Has anyone read this book yet:

SUMMER MORNING, SUMMER NIGHT

Subterranean Press 2008?

I think jkt should be done with it by tonight, the speed-reader!

The first story I ever read of his was All Summer in a Day. Beautiful and sad. That was in 7th grade. But I didn't get hooked on Bradbury until after high school when I read Zen and the Art of Writing. It inspired me. Since then I've read anything and everything of his I could find.

Good lad.

For me it was S Is For Space. It was a rainy day, I was in jr. high school, and i was complaining about having nothing to do. My mother told me to grab this book from the bookshelf and read the first story.

I finished the book that night.


I read R Is For Rocket the next day.