Books and Me: The Early Years

I have always been a reader.  I learned to read at a young age and one thing I remember about my childhood was that I had a book just about everywhere I went.  I checked books out from the school library and the public library.  At the summer reading programs I read so many books I was usually off the chart (or close to it)  I can't imagine life without books. 

The first book that I ever read to myself was "Go Dog Go!"  I was so proud of myself!  I also remember that I loved the "Billy and Blaze"  books.  If a book had a horse in it- I read it!  As I got older, I read "Black Beauty" "King of the Wind" and "The Black Stallion".  I loved animal books!  Then my 5/6th Reading teacher introduced me to other great books- "Tom Sawyer", "The Black Cauldron" and "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe".  When she read those books out loud, it expanded my imagination and got me hooked on other types of books. 

In Junior High I branched out into books by James Michener, Stephen King (see my blog entry on him) and Agatha Christie.  In 8th grade we had to read "To Kill a Mockingbird" and at the time I did not understand it too well.  Through the years it has become one of my favorites that I try and read every four or five years.  I am always blown away by the fact that I find something new every time I read it.  I have also found myself doing that with Ray Bradbury's "Dandelion Wine".  I also remember reading "Our Town" and it quickly found a special place in my heart.  I still think of Emily's question to the Stage manager about if people really appreciate every day and he answers, "The saints and poets, they do some."  Also read "A Christmas Carol" and that is one of my favs too.

In Senior High I had to read a variety of things ranging from "The Old Man and the Sea" (which I did not like at all) to "1984" which I did like.  I was also introduced to Shakespeare and got hooked on my favorite play.  Take a guess.....

When I ask people to guess most people say "Midsummer Night's Dream" (which I do love) or "Romeo and Juliet"  but neither of those are my favorite. 

It's "Hamlet".  Yep- the horribly tragic story where pretty much everybody dies.  It's dark and dramatic and I love it!  (I hear that there is another movie verison coming out soon so I suppose I will have to check that out. )

I also remember reading "The Diary of Anne Frank" and the effect that it had on me.  It's one of the books that got me hooked on history.  After that book I wanted to know more about the Jewish Holocaust and one of my favorite teachers, Mr. Largo, gave me a list of books that I pretty much devoured!  It's still one of my favorite times in history and I am so glad that Stephen Spielberg and others have recorded the stories of so many who were involved in the Holocaust. 

So- there are my early years with books.  My next post will deal with books I have read after that time.  For today- think back to what books had an impact on your childhood.  How have they shaped who you are today?  Happy reading!