Books throw the reader into a new world. A fantastical world, a world strikingly similar to our own, or reminiscent of our childhood. A world depicting the future or the past. A world that may affect our own. Here we explore the alternate worlds of stories- a parallel universe.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Falling in Love

“Reading is like breathing.”  It’s true.  Harper Lee wrote it, Scout said it, and I believe it.  Books were my first true love, aside from my family of course.  I cherish every moment I have with them, and get noticeably grumpier when we are apart for too long.

When you are little, reading is a chance to curl up, to let the voice of your dad reading Owl Moon (Jane Yolen), the chilly, quiet walk through the forest, the flight of the great horned owl and its shadow over the milky snow, lull you into peaceful sleep. 

Unless of course your grandmother reads Eloise (Kay Thompson) and you end up rolling on the floor laughing at the sound effects, racing down the halls skimming a stick over the doors of the Plaza thumpity thump thump thwack. 

Or your mom is reading Gooseberry Park (Cynthia Rylant), and at the end of the chapter you experience the thrill of your first cliffhanger.  It’s a thrill so great that I remember coming in late one night, asleep on my feet, and while brushing my teeth managed to revive myself to hyperness because I wanted to know what happened next. 

Falling in love with books was easy because my family loved them so much too.  And then learning to read on my own, to be able to make the words come alive all by myself!  That was when the cozy comfort of my long time friends turned into an unforgettable, passionate love.   I was magically able to spread my wings fly.   I didn’t need to beg my parents or grandparents or babysitters to read to me anymore because the worlds were waiting at my fingertips.  I could soar through as many storybook lands as my heart desired.  Which, as you can probably imagine, was a lot.  My own brain, rather than someone else’s voice became the key to the magic kingdom of imagination.  Animal Ark (Ben Baglio), Little House in the Big Woods (Laura Ingles Wilder), The Black Stallion (Walter Farley), The Last of the Really Great Wangdoodles (Julie Andrews Edwards), worlds both completely fantastical and totally realistic, in the past or the future or right now, anything is possible and life is an adventure.  I fell in love with the many worlds of the literary parallel universe.  Stars in my eyes, I took it upon myself to discover every nook and corner of that fantastic place, to explore every place, meet every character, live a thousand lives and love a thousand loves.  I still have a long way to go.



5 comments:

  1. You write very beautifully and now I know why, because you definetely read a lot. I love reading just as you do and think it's so interesting that you want to write your passion blog on this!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your writing is very beautiful. Your entire blog comes together so well- your tone is awesome- what you set both with your language and your background. Are you reading a new book every week? That's a lot of work! More power to you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your title and blog conent come together beautifully! I love how you weaved in the titles of books into your writing alongside telling us your story of how your love for reading developed.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I was very similar as a child. I always loved the stories in the books, and I remember having people read to me, and experiencing my first cliffhanger. I didnt keep up that love of reading, and I am regretting that now.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks!! Kate- no I won't. I want to, and I will certainly admit that part of the incentive for doing this blog is that it gives me an excuse to read, but I will be using books that I have already read in addition to new ones. Something about 1000 page books and a science major doesn't add up to a book a week! Connor- its never to late! My dad didn't really love books until he started reading to my sister and I when we were little, and he reads all the time now. Give a couple books a try, find the genre you like- hopefully this blog can give you some book suggestions!

    ReplyDelete