The first book in the series that I read was 'The Dark is Rising' because I got it from the Puffin Book Club ( does it still exist?) when I was at junior school. I liked the look of the cover and I had just finished reading the Narnia series ( which is also an annual ritual)and was looking for more of the same. The rest I managed to get from the local public library. then about 20 years ago I came across the collected series which has been with me ever since. Alan Garner was an adult addition to my reading list. I remember the 'Owl Service' on the telly when I was a kid, but only discovered the books as an adult, with the 'Weirdstone of Brisingamen', 'Moon over Gomrath' etc. coming later. Unfortunately I have none of those with me, and by weird chance came across 'Red Shift' ( a bloody good book and really adult for an adolescent reader) recently in a second hand bookstore her in Brazil!!