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1. Who were the readers in your family? My mom used to read quite a bit if I remember correctly but then again she was so involved in crafts and her other projects. My dad read the newspaper every day. I loved to read too. I don’t think my sister liked to read at all.
2. Were there some people who did not like to read or could not read? Like I said, I don’t think my sister ever picked up a book unless she absolutely had to.
3. Did your family subscribe to the newspaper? Yes, 7 days a week. I remember that from when I was little. Last year when I was taking care of my dad he stopped showing interest. I think it was all too confusing to him since none of it had any relevance for him. With the Alzheimer’s and Dementia stuff like the news and politics mean nothing to him.
4. If you did get the paper, was your Sunday newspaper considered special? What part did you enjoy? The Sunday newspaper was a pretty big deal. First, it had all the coupons. Second, it had the comics. I don’t think anyone ever did the crossword but we always had certain places we liked to check out.
5. Did your home have books strewn around? Hardbacks or paperbacks? No books strewn about. There were always a few in the bathroom, my dad supposedly sat there and read. We mostly went to the library for books so they would be returned. When it wasn’t the public library then it was the library at school. I recall buying a few books at tag sales and stuff like that but not really at the book store. Those were mostly books that were for gifting!
6. Did you frequent the library at school? Whenever it was library day! I remember in elementary school the library was down this big hallway that was almost like a ramp. I can still picture it. When I was a teacher the first school I taught at didn’t have any books. We were a small clinical day school and we used to bring the kids to the public library on the bus once a week, if their behavior allowed them to be out of the building. A few times I completed a Donors Choose campaign to get a library in our school and I did receive a few thousand dollars in books! That was great but unless the student at that school loved to read, it wasn’t happening. A lot of the kids that came to us didn’t even know how to read or read at such a low level. Psychiatric issues and behavior impeded their abilities. When I finally taught in a public middle school I was shocked to see that they didn’t have a library! Seriously! That is the only school that took out their library. To me that is just horrible.
7. How about the local community library? Did you have a library card? Always! I even remember on half days at school we would walk to the library with friends and have our parents pick us up there.
8. What was the first book you remember reading? Maybe One Fish, Two Fish by Dr. Seuss. I also remember the Secret Garden. I read a lot of Shel Silverstein.
9. Did you have a collection of books (Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Happy Hollisters, etc?) Yes, I loved Sweet Valley High and Flowers in the Attic. I also read all the Judy Blume books and Beverly Cleary.
10. Did you read comic books? If so, what titles? no, not really. I never had an interest in them. Even graphic novels. They don’t appeal to me.
11. Did you end up a bookworm, a casual reader, or someone who read only when required? I think I am a mix between a bookworm and a casual reader. I wish I had more time to just sit and read but I keep myself so busy. I do listen all the time to audiobooks. Funny, I was just telling someone that one of the books I read a little while back was so engrossing that I felt like the characters were really people I knew.
12. Is there a book from your childhood you would like to read again? If so, what book? I might like to read the Secret Garden since it has been so long. I don’t really like to reread books because the ending is what I look forward to. One book I have read over and over is the Alchemist. For some reason that book just resonated with me. I still have a copy handy. I have read it to all of my students.
13. What book or books have been extremely meaningful or influential in your life? Like I just mentioned, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
14. BONUS QUESTION: What book(s) do you frequently gift to others? Why? Dr. Seuss or Eric Carle mostly. I don’t really gift books to people because physical books are not as popular anymore, so many people just read digitally.