I remember in Germany the hype really started with the first movie. We had the first book in our school library and I remember an acquaintance told me the book is great and my 18 year old self was like “but isn’t that for children…? Meh” then I watched the movie and was hooked, along with everyone else.

I think I read that too and DNF.

When I went to school in Rheinland-Pfalz we did have a library…

The skills you feel you’re missing are taught when you study literature 😉

I have no idea what my first novel actually was, but my ex bf was never a reader until he stumbled across “Das Jesus Video” by Andreas Eschbach. He loved it so much and I think that was the first book he voluntarily read. He was around 30 at that time.