First Words

Many kids write stories, but only a few of them grow up to be successful authors. Before there was Carrie, there was " Johnathan and the Witchs." And before there was Rabbit Angstrom, Toyota dealer, there was Manuel Cirarro, famous detective. Could we have seen the seeds of success in Stephen King's and John Updike's juvenilia? These young writers are the same people who dominated the best seller lists and occupy the most celebrated spots on bookshelves in our stores, libraries, and homes. Here is a funny and surprisingly informative gathering of childhood creations by celebrated writers— authors who were amused by and happy to share their own early efforts.

• Kevin McCarthy reads Allan Gurganus

• Judith Ivey reads Margaret Atwood

• Andre Braugher reads Amiri Baraka

• Alfre Woodward reads Gloria Naylor

• Elliott Gould reads Pat Conroy

• Susan Anspach reads Joyce Carol Oates

• Roger Rees reads Gore Vidal

• Daphne Zuniga reads Susan Minot

• Nana Visitor reads Ursula K. Le Guin

• Kevin McCarthy reads John Hersey

• Melissa Manchester reads Rita Dove

• Elliott Gould reads Stephen King

• Amy Tan reads Amy Tan

• David Ackroyd reads Norman Mailer

• Joel Grey reads Paul Bowles

• Maxine Hong Kingston reads Maxine Hong Kingston

• Arte Johnson reads Roy Blount Jr.

• Andre Braugher reads Charles Johnson

• Roger Rees reads William Styron

• Harvey Fierstein reads Stanley Elkin

• Samantha Eggar reads Madeleine L' Engle

• David Ackroyd reads Louis Auchincloss

• Jeff Fahey reads Fred Chappell

• Harvey Fierstein reads Tobias Wolff

• Tim Matheson reads W.P. Kinsella

• Jean Smart reads Gail Godwin

• Jeff Fahey reads Stephen Dixon

• Andre Braugher reads Vance Bourjaily

• Elliott Gould reads John Updike

Kevin McCarthy reads Allan Gurganus

Judith Ivey reads Margaret Atwood

Andre Braugher reads Amiri Baraka

Alfre Woodward reads Gloria Naylor

Elliott Gould reads Pat Conroy

Susan Anspach reads Joyce Carol Oates

Roger Rees reads Gore Vidal

Daphne Zuniga reads Susan Minot

Nana Visitor reads Ursula K. Le Guin

Kevin McCarthy reads John Hersey

Melissa Manchester reads Rita Dove

Elliott Gould reads Stephen King

Amy Tan reads Amy Tan

David Ackroyd reads Norman Mailer

Joel Grey reads Paul Bowles

Maxine Hong Kingston reads Maxine Hong Kingston

Arte Johnson reads Roy Blount Jr.

Andre Braugher reads Charles Johnson

Roger Rees reads William Styron

Harvey Fierstein reads Stanley Elkin

Samantha Eggar reads Madeleine L' Engle

David Ackroyd reads Louis Auchincloss

Jeff Fahey reads Fred Chappell

Harvey Fierstein reads Tobias Wolff

Tim Matheson reads W.P. Kinsella

Jean Smart reads Gail Godwin

Jeff Fahey reads Stephen Dixon

Andre Braugher reads Vance Bourjaily

Elliott Gould reads John Updike