The Books, Words, and Writing weblog linked to a list of the top 50 books that got people hooked on reading, from a survey of over 100,000 people. It’s an interesting mix of books. I’m surprised to see The Bible on the list. It doesn’t really seem like the type of book that would introduce children to the world of literature.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe jumped out at me. I remember borrowing The Chronicles of Narnia box set from my sister in grade five or six and loving the series. In fact, I still have that box set sitting on my shelf right now. I’ve always had a natural talent for pilfering books.

Before that, I remember sitting in the library in grade four with my friend Mike, devouring every Hardy Boys book they had on the shelf. We were determined to get through the series, even if every book was essentially the same. At that time I was also reading through the Fear Street series by R.L. Stine, which surprisingly aren’t on the list.

In early elementary school I was reading a mix of children’s books, but I can’t think of any specific titles right now. I remember enjoying the Mr. Men books in the early years. Oh how I loved Mr. Mischief.

But to choose the book, that single book that got me hooked on reading, I have to go back even further than that. Back to those nights before kindergarten, before I even knew how to read my own name, when I’d curl up in bed and listen to my dad read The Hobbit to me. My imagination blossomed within those pages. I could nearly feel the ground under my feet as I traveled beside Bilbo, Gandalf, and Thorin. Some of my earliest memories are of my dad mimicking Gollum’s voice as he read.

I firmly believe my lifelong reading and writing habits were formed and developed those nights. My dad didn’t inspire me to go out and buy more books or to pick up a pen and start inventing tales; I was far too young for that. He did, however, shape the way I relate to stories, and that’s a gift for which I’m most thankful.