I have been reading books my entire life. I don't ever remember a time when I wasn't interested in books--and that got me to thinking. How did that happen? What made me love books and what kept that love going?The more I thought about it, the more I pinpointed specific moments in time that cemented a love affair with books into my life. Today I'm sharing my Top 3 Reading Memories of All Time. These are the moments I most attribute to cultivating my love of books.
But while you're reading this, I hope you'll think about your own life as well. Do you have any defining bookish memories? If so, I hope you'll share them with me in the comments! Aren't book memories the best?!
1. My Grandpa
My grandpa is, as of the day I'm typing this up, 96 years old. He is a WWII veteran, and a mathmetician and physicist. When he retired, he moved to a beautiful and quaint little town in New Mexico where lots of other scientist peeps go for retirement.
But when I was little, Grandpa took me to the library. Like, all the time. He shaped my love for books by spending lots of time with me and showing me the adventures waiting between the covers of the books.
That is where it all started.
2. My Teen Years
When I was 13 years old my family moved to a new state. I don't remember going to the library or reading any books at this time, but a friend I'd made at our new home offered to let me read one of her books. I remember thinking the cover was pretty, so I said yes.
This book was a Christian romance by Lori Wick. It was the first grown-up book I had ever read, but it rekindled my love for books during a time when I'd forgotten how much I loved to read (because of the stress of a new and unfamiliar place).
I read like a bazillion books throughout my high school years, everything from Shakespeare to Dickens, and romance to supernatural.
3. Post-kids Reading
When I had my first baby I stopped reading and writing. I became wholly consumed with being a mom, which was exactly how I wanted it to be. I loved it.
But one day, a few years into the thing, a co-worker offered to let me read a book about vampires. I was totally not interested. Seriously. Vampires? I told her no, but she insisted. I ended up taking home the first Twilight book, reading it in two days, and devouring the rest of the series shortly after.
I have been reading voraciously every since! (Full disclosure, when I think about Twilight now I kind of shudder in repulsion! hee hee)
So, there you have it. These reading moments have shaped my reading experience throughout my life. I am so glad to have a history to trace through!
*What about you? Got any stand-out-ish reading moments you'd care to share? Favorite books? Lovely book memories? Please tell!*
Great post Katie!
ReplyDeleteLike you, I don't remember a time when I didn't read. My oldest brother was/is an avid reader too. He often sat at the table with an encyclopedia! Heck if he had nothing else, he read cereal boxes LOL! Our mom read all the time too, so I'm sure their influence kept me reading.
As a horse lover, I devoured the Black Stallion series by Walter Farley and sweet Harlequin romances as a young teen then I discovered Historical romances.
I was often caught with a book tucked inside my text book in some class LOL!
Good luck and God's blessings to you and ALL
PamT
Thanks for stopping by, Pam! I love historical romances, too. :)
Delete1) My mom reading to me when I was little.
ReplyDelete2) My family reading The Lord of the Rings out loud together on road trips.
3) Half Magic by Edward Eager. This was my favorite book growing up. I read it several times. Of any one book growing up, this one probably had the most impact on my tastes in style and genre and getting me to love reading in general.
Reading LOTR together as a family sounds amazing. How special!
Delete