My mother was a librarian. What a blessing for a child who could never get enough of books. Although I'm sure she was a strong influence in my love of reading, there was no guarantee I would catch the vision just because she was a librarian.
We went to the library regularly and always came home with an armful of books. I distinctly remember the day she said to me, "I think you're ready for the next level of books." She led me to the juvenile fiction area and helped me select a few books. I felt like I'd made the big time!
Then I remember the day she walked over to the shelf with Amelia Elizabeth Walden's books and pulled down To Catch A Spy. She said, "I think you're ready for this now. It's one of my favorites." Could I feel more proud? I don't think so. It became one of my favorites, and now my daughter Audrey loves it too. I just reread it for about the fiftieth time. I finished it with a sigh. So many wonderful memories tied up in that book.
Here are a few landmark books for me:
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
What's not to love? When my Beth was in high school, her English teacher mentioned this book. Beth said, "My mom's read that book a hundred times." He replied, "I think that must be an exaggeration." Hmmm, I don't think so. I had the first few lines memorized for a long time. I still know the first sentence by heart:
"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents", grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.
The first time I read the book I didn't catch on that Beth died. My mom said perhaps I wasn't as ready for that book as she thought. I still remember the panicked feeling of failure when she said that. What if she didn't keep telling me great new books to read? Needless to say, the panic was unfounded.
I currently own eight editions of this book. Like I said, what's not to love?
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Sigh. This book was long, meaty, and engrossing. I loved it from the first page. (Scarlett off to the barbecue at Twelve Oaks.) My initial knowledge of the Civil War came from this book. I read my grandmother's copy. I have that copy now. It's a first edition, one she gave to my grandfather for Christmas. I know that from the inscription. I will tell you that my mother was not happy when my grandmother gave the book to me and not to my mother. You can read about my experience reading
Gone With the Wind while the first Americans were walking on the moon
here.
Jubilee Trail by Gwen Bristow
Another book that I remember my mom pulling off the shelf and telling me she thought I'd like it. I was a little put off by the title. (Good thing the copy I read didn't have this cover--it would have put me off too. This is a true case of
don't judge a book by its cover.) An epic book. Great story, great characters, fascinating story. Oh, I love it so! It was out of print for a long time. This Christmas I found it back in print and bought myself a copy. I never met a book by Gwen Bristow I didn't love, and I devoured every one I could lay my hands on.
