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....