Your favorite first book

[steve]

First books are mostly blah affairs.

But if an author is exceptional, talent is evident from the start.

My favorite first book is Walter Tevis's THE HUSTLER. It was based on a short story he published, and the novel is first-rate all around.

What's yours?

[One of the Mad Ones]

This is easy because I just read it: Carole Maso's GHOST DANCE.

[Mira]

The Hobbit. Can I count that? Or does it have to be more recent?

[Down the well]

The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue. Such a strange book, but I thought it was haunting and brilliant.

[craig]

WARCHILD by Karin Lowachee.

Blew my away. It was my first juicy taste of (1) darker sci-fi, and (2) intensely character driven sci-fi.

[Nathan Bransford]

I'd have to go with FRANKENSTEIN.

[maggie]

Little House on the Prairie. I learned to read on those books and I was obsessed with them. I even went through a phase at age 3 or 4 where I actually wore bonnets because I wanted to be just like the Ingalls girls. There is photo evidence (thanks a lot, Mom) and my husband will never let me live it down. :)

EDIT: Ha. Oops. I read the title of this thread and didn't read the first post well enough and took it as the first book that was your favorite, like when you were little. I was amazed at how incredibly sophisticated all of your tastes were when you were small children... I get it now. I should not try to post on the forums in the middle of the night when my brain is not fully functional. :)

[GerriB]

Legend by David Gemmell. One of the best first novels I've ever read. It didn't read like a first novel. Imagine my disappointment when I went to look for more of his books and there weren't any! Aargh! But eventually, there were. I was quite sad when I heard he died. :(

[Leonidas]

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

[Prudence]

My favorite first book was Junie B. Jones Has a Monster Under Her Bed. The entire series nurtured my love of reading, really, but that was the first chapter book I remember finishing and loving.

[TuraLura]

Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare, which marked a return to reading historical romance for me. This book made me remember why I used to be so addicted to the (sub)genre.

Coming in a very close second is Heartsick by Chelsea Cain. Woah. That book was freaky and intense and awesome.

I actually just joined the forums to post in this thread. I'm hoping to be active around the boards, but not tonight. It is about 2:30 am after all. ^_^

[stephendag]

More recent: She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb--love his pop culture and history refs.
Of all time: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee--it never ceases to amaze me.

[arbraun]

Gord Rollo's The Jigsaw Man. Not only was it phenomenal, but also he showed you don't have to use twenty dollar words. Five centers did him well. I only remember one big word from the book, and I already knew what it meant.

Yes, it's true: even with most great authors, their first book is usually average.