Wednesday Book Day

I thought I'd pick a day to talk about reading and books that I've read/loved/hated/been changed by. Just talk reading and books in general. It'll probably wind up being fairly random. I know this post is going to be, but I'll try and focus on specific books in the future.

My folks like to tell the story of how my love of reading started. Once upon a time, I was an early riser (yeah, times change and so do people because I am so very much not a morning person anymore). So there I was, up before six am on a regular basis and nothing seemed to keep me entertained until my mother started leaving a book in my crib after I'd fallen asleep. Suddenly, instead of being woken up by crying, she'd be woken up by the sound of me 'reading' to myself. I'd look at the pictures and blather away in baby talk as I read the book.

As a toddler, people would see me reading books and be amazed because I was quite young. Apparently, I had the books memorized and knew what words were written on which pages because I'd make my folks read the books over and over to me.

While I can't remember that, I can remember always having a book by my bed and reading was the last thing I did before going to bed and the first thing I did when I got up.

I can remember trips to the library from pretty early on - I remember when the Curious George books were my favorite. I loved that monkey and the man in the yellow hat.

I remember when I discovered that the Wizard of Oz was in books! And there was more than just one of them.

Encyclopedia Brown! Do you remember those? I loved them and devoured every book in the series that the library had.

Many an evening as I was growing up was spent as a family, not in front of the TV, but each in their own spot, reading a book. When I hit high school and had to read, it was so much fun. I never had a problem getting the books read for my classes because it was what I loved to do.

Books were always there. Whether it was nice outside or too hot or too cold or too rainy. They were there if I was happy or sad or lonely or in a great mood. I read everything I could get my hands on.

My first job was as a shelver at the library when I was sixteen. (I'd tried to apply the year before but they weren't allowed to hire you until you were sixteen, I showed up the week after my birthday to apply.) Hell, I was there every couple of days anyway, might as well do a few hours work (with books!) and get paid for it, right?

Books take you away to another world, they can inspire and they can make you feel things. I have always loved books and reading. Always. Now that so much of my time is taken up with writing and all the accouterments that go along with being published, I don't get to read nearly as much as I used to. I am, however, slowly getting back into the habit and I'm glad. Because I still love reading. Whether it's with a paper book in hand, or an electronic one, books are awesome and reading is one of my favorite things in the world.

Sean
smut fixes everything