I have the clearest memory of my mother reading to me until one day, old enough to read by myself, I figurately slipped off her lap and didn’t return. (I wish I could remember the last book we read together.) My father was the one who bought my books, all of them shelved in a custom-made bookcase he built. It was a little girl’s wide-eyed dream come true, those shelves. In the center was a glass case that was lit where my Story Book Dolls were on display, dust free. The bookshelves on either side of this case were filled with the classics and evolved with other titles as I grew older. At one time, pride of place, were the horse books I read. I remember dusting the books, rearranging them, sitting on the floor reading them, or propped up in bed with a book until lights out. To this day I have repeated this pattern. When we moved this year it was not until my books were shelved that I felt at home. I’ve decided that a goal for my writing, perhaps every author, is to have our readers staying up past their bedtime because they can’t put the book down. Donna Tartt, The Goldfinch, had me up until 2:30AM the other night, and before that I finished Louise Penny’s book, How the Light Gets In, about the same time. And before that……..My wish for you today is reading a book that keeps you up past your bedtime!
Check out my Pinterest Board- A Childhood of Books
for more illustrations like Bookworm
“I grew up surrounded by books that my father provided and regular trips to the library. This collection of pins reflect how important reading books can be to a child. I can’t imagine my life without them, which now include e-books. A life time of reading started so long ago has changed my life and helped me to become a writer.” SFH
I read past my bedtime too!
I set my bedtime for the moment I’m too sleepy to keep reading.