Oh, I remember reading 'Charlotte's Web' with my kids, thank you for the reminder! I think you really touch on something here: the importance of encouraging children to become readers; to introduce them to books you love but also to allow them the space to discover their own reading choices. As parents who have never had a huge income, I am happy that we have always had a house full of books (mostly second-hand) and access to some wonderful free libraries here in the UK, which my husband and I and our two children (who are now 16 and 24) still use every week. Thank you for sharing :)
Our family has had so much joy using free public libraries both when I was a child and when my wife and I had our own children. We took advantage of many activities that the libraries offered as well as checking out as many books as we could carry! Our children are 16 and 19 now and they both love to read. I think my daughter has more books in her room than I have! We definitely utilize the used book stores to find our treasures. Trying to put two kids through university, I can't spend that much on books! Thanks so much for sharing your experience.
I remember reading "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Like you, I was broke but didn't know it. I vividly remember reading descriptions of the candy and I used pats of butter to "quench the desire". Not exactly gourmet chocolate, but it was something to savor while I read.
Mike, great hearing from you my friend! Hope you are doing well and enjoy these weekly installments. My wife ties a lot of her memories to music but mine have also been related to books. Not sure I could stomach pats of butter but it can't be worse than some of the Navy food I have had!
Love this. My father loved Louis L’Amour as well and my mother always read to us and to herself. We had an encyclopedia set from a door to door salesman, too. I especially love that passage from Charlotte’s Web. So evocative. No wonder it had an impression upon you.
So true. I have a vivid memory of my brother (seven years older) reading the opening of The Hobbit to me. Not just the fact of reading it, but the animated way he read it with different voices and so theatrical. I ducked my head when the dwarves were flinging dishes around during their washing up. 😅
Beautiful piece Matthew. I especially loved the sentiment that reading empowers people. That's certainly been true in my life, and I'm looking forward to learning more of your story.
Clare - thank you for reading and commenting. It mean a lot. Reading in and of itself empowers through knowledge and learning. I also want there to be plenty of opportunities for empowerment through representation. We all have something to learn from each others experiences. All the best!
My parents weren’t big readers and neither were any of the adults in my little child’s world. When I think about why I read, I suppose it was always like form of preparation to leave. I have no idea what I was trying to leave haha Chalk it up to as some sort of autodidact disease
Max - thanks! It is interesting how we all take different paths and end up in the same place. Whatever the motivations, glad you turned to reading and found your way here. All the best.
Oh, I remember reading 'Charlotte's Web' with my kids, thank you for the reminder! I think you really touch on something here: the importance of encouraging children to become readers; to introduce them to books you love but also to allow them the space to discover their own reading choices. As parents who have never had a huge income, I am happy that we have always had a house full of books (mostly second-hand) and access to some wonderful free libraries here in the UK, which my husband and I and our two children (who are now 16 and 24) still use every week. Thank you for sharing :)
Our family has had so much joy using free public libraries both when I was a child and when my wife and I had our own children. We took advantage of many activities that the libraries offered as well as checking out as many books as we could carry! Our children are 16 and 19 now and they both love to read. I think my daughter has more books in her room than I have! We definitely utilize the used book stores to find our treasures. Trying to put two kids through university, I can't spend that much on books! Thanks so much for sharing your experience.
I remember reading "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Like you, I was broke but didn't know it. I vividly remember reading descriptions of the candy and I used pats of butter to "quench the desire". Not exactly gourmet chocolate, but it was something to savor while I read.
Mike, great hearing from you my friend! Hope you are doing well and enjoy these weekly installments. My wife ties a lot of her memories to music but mine have also been related to books. Not sure I could stomach pats of butter but it can't be worse than some of the Navy food I have had!
Thank you for sharing a bit about yourself and your "reader birth"! I look forward to what unfolds here!
Jeanne, thanks so much for reading. Really means a lot. Glad to have you along for the adventure.
The Lime Twig
by John Hawkes
See Wikipedia...
You’ll understand my enthusiasm.
Thanks, I will check it out.
Love this. My father loved Louis L’Amour as well and my mother always read to us and to herself. We had an encyclopedia set from a door to door salesman, too. I especially love that passage from Charlotte’s Web. So evocative. No wonder it had an impression upon you.
Thanks Nancy. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. Isn't it amazing how those literary influences early on can have such an impact?
So true. I have a vivid memory of my brother (seven years older) reading the opening of The Hobbit to me. Not just the fact of reading it, but the animated way he read it with different voices and so theatrical. I ducked my head when the dwarves were flinging dishes around during their washing up. 😅
Beautiful piece Matthew. I especially loved the sentiment that reading empowers people. That's certainly been true in my life, and I'm looking forward to learning more of your story.
Clare - thank you for reading and commenting. It mean a lot. Reading in and of itself empowers through knowledge and learning. I also want there to be plenty of opportunities for empowerment through representation. We all have something to learn from each others experiences. All the best!
My parents weren’t big readers and neither were any of the adults in my little child’s world. When I think about why I read, I suppose it was always like form of preparation to leave. I have no idea what I was trying to leave haha Chalk it up to as some sort of autodidact disease
Great content and thank you for sharing
Max - thanks! It is interesting how we all take different paths and end up in the same place. Whatever the motivations, glad you turned to reading and found your way here. All the best.