An Early Reading Meme

Kate has kindly created a reading meme.  Last month I posted about my best loved children's books, so there might be a little overlap, but it is fun to think about these questions anyway.  Here are most of my YA books--I accumulated a binful when I took a grad class a few years back.

1. How old were you when you learned to read and who taught you?  I hate to admit, I can't remember exactly how old I was when I started to read--must ask my mom about this!  I do remember reading lots when I got to school, so I must have learned some time before then.  My mom worked in an elementary school library, and I have some recollections of going to work with her (I guess that's where it all started--look where I have ended up!).  I also recall going to the lunch room with the schoolkids and eating butter sandwiches.  What more can a four year old ask for?

2. Did you own any books as a child? If so, what’s the first one that you remember owning? If not, do you recall any of the first titles that you borrowed from the library?  Okay.  I do have a pretty vivid memory of my grandma buying me a book--not sure if it was my first book, but for some reason this has always stuck with me.  I remember going to lunch with my mom and grandma in the Old Market part of town (where I later would work in a bookstore!), and going to a long-defunct store that sold books and toys.  There is a small catch...I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the book.  I wish I could find it.  It had a sing-songy style of writing, and the characters were these hippie-ish/Prairie sorts of people (this would have been somewhere in the 70s mind you).  It was the story of this family, but I don't remember much of the story either.  Terrible, aren't I?!  What I remember most is the prose style...Ma and Pa went a -tumblin'....well that sort of idea.  If I saw the book I would remember it, and I have tried to find it.  I need to look at a really good children's collection where they haven't done much weeding, I guess!  My mom also gave me Patricia Coombs's books about Dorrie the Witch, which I loved!  Someday I would like to find them as well (I think they are mostly out of print) and start a little collection of them.  And I borrowed lots of books from the library!  Every summer I took part in their reading program! 

3. What’s the first book that you bought with your own money? I was not a particularly literary child.  I really didn't have lots of guidance in terms of what to choose to read, so I bought whatever sounded appealing (another carry over from childhood as I still do the same thing now!).  I don't remember what my first purchases were, but I do remember buying books by Constance C. Greene about a girl called Al.  There were a whole series of them (though I think there are more now than I had to choose from back then).  I would buy them from a vendor at a local mall that had one of those book kiosks in the main mall area.  I am sure I did read my fair share of "good" books as well, but I just don't remember now particular titles.  I loved the Little House on the Prairie books for example and I loved looking at a big illustrated Treasure Island, but after so many books my mind is sometimes a big black hole sucking information in and hiding it somewhere in the dark recesses! 

4. Were you a re-reader as a child? If so, which book did you re-read most often? Like many kids, I loved Judy Blume!  I probably read all her books over and over, but my favorite was Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret!  I read that one over and over.

5. What’s the first adult book that captured your interest and how old were you when you read it? Again, I have to say I was not a particularly literary child.  I really wish I could say I read Jane Eyre and my love for reading was sealed.  Alas, I read Jane Eyre last year, but my love of reading was still sealed despite my reading a steady diet of junk!  I think the cross-over books that I read were along the lines of Phyllis Whitney mysteries.  Yes, I already admitted to Flowers in the Attic by  V.C. Andrews and Endless Love by Scott Spencer and no doubt there were books by Stephen King, too.  In my defense, however, I was in AP English where we were reading lots of Dead White Males along the lines of Milton and Dante, so does that help redeem me a bit?  Trust me, I am trying hard to make up for lost time now. 

6. Are there children’s books that you passed by as a child that you have learned to love as an adult? Which ones?  As an adult I really have not read as many children's books as I would like to (though have read the Harry Potter books of course)--there are lots of gaps I would like to fill in!  (Maybe this needs to be a new reading challenge, eh?  Read Ten Books You Should Have Read as a Child!--just joking of course!).  I did take a YA Literature grad class when I was considering getting my MLS, which was thoroughly enjoyable (see above photo).  I have lots of books on my list to read (once again see this post).  Oh, how to fit it all in?  Maybe I need to try and read one YA book each month...I can already see my pile of books on my night stand increasing....

Comments

[Stefanie]

What great answers, and nice memories!

[Danielle]

I only wish I could remember more--some people have great memories, but mine is terrible!

[Andrew]

Likewise. I can never answer these questions :(
The most juvenile books I remember reading were the Gor books, or Stephen King/Dean R Koontz

[litlove]

I love your answers Danielle, and I have a suspicion mine are going to look very similar. I was brought up on a steady diet of junk, and loved it dearly, and can't remember a great deal about it!

[kimbofo]

Oh, I loved "Are you there god, it's me Margaret" too! I read that one a trillion times!

[iliana]

Can I just copy and paste your answers? :) Loved reading your answers. I'll try to post this meme tonight. So fun.

[Heather]

I read Are You There God a million times too. I just loved it SO much. I remember being so happy when I went to the dentist and it tickled when he cleaned my teeth, because that was exactly what happened when Margaret went. I'm so weird. This is a great meme, I just had to do it too.

[LK]

Oh, Judy Blume is great.

I felt like you do, kind of embarrassed at not being able to remember when I first learned to read or the titles of old books (whose plots I recalled so well).

[Max]

What an amazing meme! I cannot resist this one. Shamefully I have to confess to never having read Jane Eyre even though I am not 23 and it is long overdue, so I don't think you should feel too bad about it not being your first 'adult' book!

[Camille]

I say, any kid that reads a lot, is still a literary kid. Who cares if they read "junk?" Thanks for reminding me of the Flowers in the Attic books! I read so many of those in middle school even the ones that were written by committee or whatever after V.C. Andrews died.

[Karen]

Just stumbled onto your blog and your mention of "Flowers In the Attic" being one of your first adult read made me smile. It was mine too. Love your reading list...am always looking for new books to read so will have to come back and check out all the books you've read..