Reading/Books/Childhood

I’ve been in a funk lately, and have not read anything in the past few weeks, despite having plenty of reading time. The last think I read was an old David Sedaris, which was very entertaining as usual. I decided to try the British book reading challenge that I saw on a friend’s blog. I love British authors, so this should be fun, and will helpfully make me a bit more focused on my choices and speed of reading.

For Christmas, I got one book. I requested it, and my husband followed through. (A fact that has made him especially pleased with himself). It is a childhood book I once had. I think this may just satiate my need to revisit the idealism of my childhood*. I loved books from as earlly as I can remember, and I remember trying to decipher letters and words very early on. I remembered this particular book a few years ago, but could only recall the pictures and a foggy story line. Through many hours of googling, I finally found it! http://www.darewright.com/ – the author’s website. i put it on my Christmas list (a list is totally opposed to what I want to happen on Christmas, but found it necessary with my forgetful and somewhat OCD husband). And yesterday, the postman delivered a fresh, brand new copy of the book. I think I loved it as a little girl because of the photos, and the story line. The actual book is A Gift from the Lonely Doll and is about Edith and her homemade Christmas gift for her teddy, Mr. Bear. It is kind of a complex story, but the photography is what got me to remember it 40 years (ahhhhhhhh) later. I don’t know what Christmas it was when I got this book, whether I was 3, 4, or older (publishing date was when I was 2, so it could have even been a hand-me-down book) but I remember vividly it being read to me.

My mother – and to some extent my dad – put the love of reading into all of our lives. I don’t remember my dad reading to me much, but my mom read to me at bedtime every night until I could read myself. I devoured my books, over and over again. My parents house was filled with books and an evening would more often find everyone cozied up reading vs. watching TV. I feel very thankful that reading came easy to me, and feel very sad for my students who don’t have such luck.

Of my childhood, I still have a few books, a couple Nancy Drew’s, and Where the Wild Things Are. Now I have a few ** to replace, and then I will have the most precious to me back in my possession. I have a lot of books that I have not read yet, and if I was particularly ambitious and confident I would make those my reading challenge of 2010. However, just like I am a historian who lives in a historic town but has not seen all he historic sights, I like the anticipation and the savouring of the undone, unseen and unread. Is that weird?

In 2010, I am going to read, of course, but this trip down memory lane will even allow me to release my husband’s beloved used paperbacks from the attic. I was a snob, and have my hardbacks organized by color in the living room, and paper backs are relegated to closets, piles, baskets and boxes. After realizing the powerful memories associated with the books of our youth, I think some bookcases with not so attractive books will be allowed.

*As soon as I get another copy of Ukelele and her New Doll.
**And, the Honey Bunch series

Next post: The Civil War books…..