--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started reading and fell in love with…" description: "\"I started reading and fell in love with the worlds and characters Lev Grossman created. I'm taken with his exploration of an idealized childhood fantas..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/hale-appleman-26449_childhood_i-started-reading-and-fell-in-love-with_2147425.jpg" --- # I started reading and fell in love with the worlds and… ![“I started reading and fell in love with the worlds and characters Lev Grossman created. I'm taken with his exploration of an idealized childhood fantasy through the lens of adulthood, or coming into adulthood.” quote by Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/hale-appleman-26449_childhood_i-started-reading-and-fell-in-love-with_2147425.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/hale-appleman-26449_childhood_i-started-reading-and-fell-in-love-with_2147425.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/hale-appleman-26449_childhood_i-started-reading-and-fell-in-love-with_2147425.jpg) > “I started reading and fell in love with the worlds and characters Lev Grossman created. I'm taken with his exploration of an idealized childhood fantasy through the lens of adulthood, or coming into adulthood.” [Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-appleman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The reader discovers deep love for fictional worlds, reflecting how stories mirror adult growth. **In simple terms:** Fiction can teach about growing up. Key Takeaway Explore books that challenge your perspective. Themes literature coming of age imagination Mood thoughtful nostalgic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - adolescence - career change - creative writing Key Concepts narrative therapy identity formation Questions to Reflect On - What characters resonate with your life? - How do stories shape your adult self? A Different Perspective Reading may become escapism if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Childhood Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood-fantasy-625435/) [Exploration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploration/) [Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Idealized Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idealized-childhood-4499518/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Started reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-reading/) [Worlds Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worlds-characters-837690/) ## Related quotes > [Art as a fantasy has been one of my earliest experiences. I suppose a lot of my childhood was a fantasy that involved getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/art-as-a-fantasy-has-been-one-of-my-earliest-experiences-i-suppose-a/) [Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-johns/) > [“ 'Books had always been my best friends and all I wanted to do was lose myself in them, and better yet if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fae-sutherland/books-had-always-been-my-best-friends-and-all-i-wanted-to-do-was-lose/) [Fae Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fae-sutherland/) > [I love inventing worlds and characters and settings and scenarios.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-b-jenkins/i-love-inventing-worlds-and-characters-and-settings-and-scenarios/) [Jerry B. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-b-jenkins/) > [I think I've always been drawn to the second person. When I was growing up and playing with my friends, the usual way we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/i-think-i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-the-second-person-when-i-was/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [It's a childhood fantasy to perform on a big stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordyn-woods/it-s-a-childhood-fantasy-to-perform-on-a-big-stage/) [Jordyn Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordyn-woods/) > [I could see myself in some sort of pioneer bonnet, it's my childhood fantasy. But, I think I look too jewish for the prairie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-dratch/i-could-see-myself-in-some-sort-of-pioneer-bonnet-it-s-my-childhood/) [Rachel Dratch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-dratch/) > [“Childhood fantasy: Living in a library. -- Bethany B.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smith-magazine/childhood-fantasy-living-in-a-library-bethany-b/) [SMITH Magazine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smith-magazine/) > [I've been in love with the cinema since childhood and it's a fantasy of mine to appear in a Hollywood movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-tonioli/i-ve-been-in-love-with-the-cinema-since-childhood-and-it-s-a-fantasy/) [Bruno Tonioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-tonioli/) > [“I had waited an eternity for this moment. My childhood fantasy was now coming true— I would be a dark angel of the night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-schreiber/i-had-waited-an-eternity-for-this-moment-my-childhood-fantasy-was-now/) [Ellen Schreiber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-schreiber/) > [Speaking of childhood fantasy, we were doing a Western, but we were also just hanging out. You work, and you ride and ride and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-badge-dale/speaking-of-childhood-fantasy-we-were-doing-a-western-but-we-were/) [James Badge Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-badge-dale/) > [Playing with Queen was the biggest moment of my career. It was like living a childhood fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/playing-with-queen-was-the-biggest-moment-of-my-career-it-was-like/) [George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/) > [It's an amazing thing to be able to fall into the world of your childhood fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-miller/it-s-an-amazing-thing-to-be-able-to-fall-into-the-world-of-your/) [Ezra Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-miller/) > [I'm living out a childhood fantasy. Our house is in a historic district of a small town that I used to read about in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-duke/i-m-living-out-a-childhood-fantasy-our-house-is-in-a-historic/) [Patty Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-duke/) > [You never know how things are going to fit. So, you don't count your eggs until they hatch. You can't pre-project that. I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jena-malone/you-never-know-how-things-are-going-to-fit-so-you-don-t-count-your/) [Jena Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jena-malone/) > [The older ones recently saw Mr and Mrs Smith and I think they thought that was the funniest thing they'd ever seen because, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/the-older-ones-recently-saw-mr-and-mrs-smith-and-i-think-they-thought/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) ## More by Hale Appleman > [ I think for Lev \[Grossman\], C. S. Lewis was a huge inspiration from his childhood. I know that Brideshead Revisited is a book that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-appleman/i-think-for-lev-grossman-c-s-lewis-was-a-huge-inspiration-from-his/) [Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-appleman/) > [Some day, I'm in a horror movie, and some days I'm in, like, a sweet, independent feature about relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-appleman/some-day-i-m-in-a-horror-movie-and-some-days-i-m-in-like-a-sweet/) [Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-appleman/) > [I grew up doing a lot of theatre, plays, dramas, musicals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-appleman/i-grew-up-doing-a-lot-of-theatre-plays-dramas-musicals/) [Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-appleman/) > [ My intention is always to honor the character that Lev \[Grossman\] created in the books and my greatest concern, honestly, is that the fans… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-appleman/my-intention-is-always-to-honor-the-character-that-lev-grossman/) [Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-appleman/) > [I think with The Magicians, the Harry Potter and Narnia influences are obviously there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-appleman/i-think-with-the-magicians-the-harry-potter-and-narnia-influences-are/) [Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-appleman/) > [I think The Magicians takes these conventional ideas from this Christian literature of good vs. evil and it sort of shakes it up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-appleman/i-think-the-magicians-takes-these-conventional-ideas-from-this/) [Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-appleman/) > [We need new stories, but I am looking forward to 'The Dark Crystal'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-appleman/we-need-new-stories-but-i-am-looking-forward-to-the-dark-crystal/) [Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-appleman/) > [The Pandora's box of unholiness is attempting to sing anything that Freddie Mercury ever sang.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-appleman/the-pandora-s-box-of-unholiness-is-attempting-to-sing-anything-that/) [Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-appleman/) > [I spend a part of the year in New York when based in L.A. and vice versa. It's the only way I feel balanced.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-appleman/i-spend-a-part-of-the-year-in-new-york-when-based-in-l-a-and-vice/) [Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-appleman/) > [I always loved magic and fantasy/adventure series as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-appleman/i-always-loved-magic-and-fantasy-adventure-series-as-a-kid/) [Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-appleman/) > [From about ten, I knew I wanted to be an actor, and I started doing vocal shows and stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-appleman/from-about-ten-i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-and-i-started-doing/) [Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-appleman/) > [I grew up loving fantasy, adventure, and children's book series. At the time, I was in a place in LA where I wasn't working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-appleman/i-grew-up-loving-fantasy-adventure-and-children-s-book-series-at-the/) [Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-appleman/) > [Our fans are really passionate and really protective of the characters on the show. That's just a testament to them, that kind of reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-appleman/our-fans-are-really-passionate-and-really-protective-of-the/) [Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-appleman/) > [I went to Carnegie Mellon for a year and a month or two, and then I dropped out because I got a movie. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-appleman/i-went-to-carnegie-mellon-for-a-year-and-a-month-or-two-and-then-i/) [Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-appleman/) > [Born in the Village. My mom still lives on Bleeker Street. I went to the performing arts high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-appleman/born-in-the-village-my-mom-still-lives-on-bleeker-street-i-went-to/) [Hale Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-appleman/) [Explore all 21 Hale Appleman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-appleman/) ## More Childhood quotes > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [“From childhood’s hour I have not been As others were—I have not seen As others saw—I could not bring My passions from a common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/from-childhood-s-hour-i-have-not-been-as-others-were-i-have-not-seen/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [I had a rough upbringing. Group homes. Foster homes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shamrock/i-had-a-rough-upbringing-group-homes-foster-homes/) [Frank Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shamrock/) > [When I talk about my childhood I used to say it as if it was scripted and I'd make jokes because it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/when-i-talk-about-my-childhood-i-used-to-say-it-as-if-it-was-scripted/) [Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/) > [Every man remembers his childhood as a kind of mythical age, just as every nation's childhood is its mythical age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-leopardi/every-man-remembers-his-childhood-as-a-kind-of-mythical-age-just-as/) [Giacomo Leopardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-leopardi/) > [It's a very familiar type of place where people either go to their house on the lake or they get together in different places.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-s-a-very-familiar-type-of-place-where-people-either-go-to-their/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [Downstairs in my house, I have a museum room. I keep all of my awards down there, and childhood photos, and even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/downstairs-in-my-house-i-have-a-museum-room-i-keep-all-of-my-awards/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [On paper, it looks rough, but I had a great childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-morton/on-paper-it-looks-rough-but-i-had-a-great-childhood/) [Samantha Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-morton/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. Lay yourselves open to these thoughts, and not to weakening and paralysing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-positive-strong-helpful-thoughts-enter-into-your-brains-from-very/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I always knew that I was kind of bored; the regular life of a child didn't fit me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/i-always-knew-that-i-was-kind-of-bored-the-regular-life-of-a-child/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [Children are not a zoo of entertainingly exotic creatures, but an array of mirrors in which the human predicament leaps out at us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/children-are-not-a-zoo-of-entertainingly-exotic-creatures-but-an/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I'm not sure I would have ever started to draw, let alone write, if my childhood hadn't been so happy. It was a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-m-not-sure-i-would-have-ever-started-to-draw-let-alone-write-if-my/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) [Browse all 5,837 Childhood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started reading and fell in love with the worlds and characters Lev Grossman created. 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