I’ve been subscribing to Bookmarks magazine for almost a year now. A couple of days ago I explored their website and found in their forum a discussion entitled The Seven Things About You As a Reader. It made me think: what are seven things unknown about my reading life?
1. I have a whole bookshelf dedicated to short story collections and anthologies from writers like Lauren Groff, Zadie Smith, Donald Ray Pollock, and Amy Hempel. Most I have never read. All are brand new. This is why I’m on a book-buying ban.
2. I was the slowest reader in my kindergarten class. The summer after I was determined to become a better reader. My father was unemployed at the time so he took care of my little brother and I. That summer I put my little desk next to the back door and stayed there in my father’s way all summer. He taught me to read by answering every question I had on sounds and words. I am forever indebted to him for that summer alone.
3. I didn’t own a library card until I was almost thirteen. Before then my mother would just buy me books from the thrift store she worked at. We couldn’t afford the books and she still bought them without hesitating. I owe my mom just as much as I owe my dad.
4. In the eighth grade I received an award for reading a thousand books that school year. Instead of going to the award assembly where I was told I received a standing ovation, I went to get my hair done for the eighth grade prom. I received the worst hair cut ever. Not going to the assembly is one of the biggest regrets in my life.
5. I dislike hardcover books. I rather have a paperback that won’t weigh down my backpack or purse. Paperbacks are easy to bend and I don’t have to worry about the dust jacket. Besides paperbacks are cheaper.
6. I was the only reader in my family until I started having kids.
7. I go through reading obsessions. Some of my obsessions have included Pulitzer prize-winning plays, homeschooling, fantasy books, children’s books, and authors like Judy Blume, Ann M. Martin, and John Steinbeck. Sometimes the obsession lasts a month while other times it lasts for several months. My current obsession is to get the ton of books I checked out from the library read and returned on time.
What are seven things about you as a reader?
Thank you for sharing. I’m always curious about other people’s reading obsessions. I do that, too. Right now my obsession is finishing the challenges so I can read all the other books I like that don’t fit in the challenges. Lol.
What a fabulous post. I was a slow reader at infant school. I soon made up for it though.
Claire: I like that obsession! I signed up for too many challenges to finish all of them anytime soon.
Vivienne: Thanks!
Your initiative to improve as a reader when you were a child is wonderful as well as your gratitude to your parents. Thank you for sharing. And a thousand books in the 8th grade…that is just awesome.
this was a great post. I hope you don’t mind, but I did one at my blog. with full credit and links to you!
You read 1000 books in one school year? You must be a speed reader. Wow. I’m still so impressed by the volume you can read.
I prefer paperbacks as well and usually only purchase hardcovers of books that I have to read immediately upon publication (like the new Laurie R. King book coming out next week). I’ll buy a copy when it hits paperback, too, so I have a more convenient copy for the inevitable re-reads.
I’ll see if I can think of seven things for my Sunday Salon post this week (linking back to your post here, of course).
This was fun! I might steal it for my own blog at some point and time.
Book Psmith: Thanks! I wish I could catch up with that year!
Marie: Not at all! I would love to see everyone’s responses.
Amanda: I’m not a speed reader but that was before kids, bills, and obligations came along.
Ruth: I can’t wait to see your answers. I just started reading The Beekeeper’s Apprentice. I can tell I’m about to be a LRK fan.
Kailana: I would love to see your answers.
I loved reading your answers – especially the stories about your mom and dad. What wonderful memories to have!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I go through reading obsessions too. When I was younger I needed to own and read all of the Babysitters Club books (in answer to your question, my fav. #37 Dawn and the Older Boy, the first one I read from the series) as well as the Nancy Drew mysteries. Later on, it was John Irving, Agatha Christie, Booker Prize, Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize winners. Now it’s just finishing the challenges I’ve started!
I’m absolutely with you on your fifth point! Most of my reading nowadays is done on the train to university and I have very weak shoulders. My bag is heavy enough without the hardcover (or omnibus for that matter) books in there!
Your parents sound absolutely amazing, too. That’s so sweet of the both of them to do that!
Thanks for sharing that list! ^-^
What a wonderful 7 things!!! I have put myself on several book buying bans over the last couple of years. I am doing somewhat better this year, although I still fall off the wagon many, many times!
I can see why you would regret the hair vs. award ceremony decision. 1000 books! Wow. I so feel for you as I have a few similar regrets from my school days and the gut-wrenching feeling of regret, though it fades to the background, never quite leaves you.
I much prefer hardbacks, at least to satisfy my book collecting obsession, but paperbacks are certainly easier to schlep around!
I go through reading obsessions as well. It is fun when they happen because sometimes the inspiration for them is very, very odd.
That’s wonderful about your parents nursing your love for books and helping you out with reading. Sometimes family support is the main factor in raising future readers:) I was lucky too, my parents both love books and never held back money on them…
Do they teach to read in kindergarten already?? I only learned in first grade!
Nowadays they want kids to start learning how to read before they reach kindergarten. It’s easy to see why so many parents homeschool.
Carrie: Thanks. I owe them.
Melissa: I forgot about Dawn and the older Boy. My daughter is seven and she’s starting the series for the first time.
Shanra: Thanks! Being a passenger while someone else drives is one of the best ways to get reading done.
Carl: The inspiration for reading obsessions are very odd. But I’m blaming you, Chris, and Nymeth for the fantasy obsession I went through a couple of weeks ago. =)
I’m sure I can speak for Chris and Nymeth, as well as myself, in saying that we are glad to share the blame!
I have a ton of De Lint books on hold at the library because of you! You recommend some great books, Carl!
Thanks! I certainly credit Endicott Studio and Terri Windling and Midori Snyder for introducing me to writers like Charles de Lint. When they recommend fantasy they know what they are talking about. And while I don’t expect everyone to feel the same about books that I review as I do, I do try to be honest about my experience with a book when I review it and I always hope that if someone picks something up that I recommend that they at least have a good experience with it.
I’m going to start visiting the Endicott Studio site more often. I just started reading fantasy last year and I feel like there’s so much catching up to do.
If you go to this site you will see “Reading Lists” a bit down on the left hand side. This is an archive site of all their wonderful essays and articles and their recommended reading lists. Definitely worth using for reading ideas.
http://endicottstudio.typepad.com/jomahome/
Carl, you are the best! I owe you.
No a problem, just trying to do what I try to do on my blog, which is share wonderful things with wonderful people.
I love this. And, while I don’t have a shelf just dedicated to short story collections (yet), I do have one for poetry and another for classics. I have just started getting more into short stories so hopefully I’ll have one soon too
What a nice tribute to your mom and dad! And such determination at such a young age. I hope you’ve forgiven yourself about missing the assembly in 8th grade – after all, you learned a lot from that decision.
This was a very nice post; I’ll have to think about posting my seven.
Aww thanks, Gwendolyn! I’m trying to forgive myself but I haven’t yet. I hope you post yours and let me know. I would love to read them.
Vasiily, this is wonderful. It is great learning more about you as a reader. I don’t have a lot of short story collections but I do have an entire small bookshelf of poetry!
Vasilly, this is wonderful. It is great learning more about you as a reader. I don’t have a lot of short story collections but I do have an entire small bookshelf of poetry!
I loved this so much I did it myself! I linked back to you as well, right here.