Summer always makes me think about reading. Maybe that's because growing up, we'd spend weekends at the lake where there was no TV, no mall, barely any working electricity, and no movies. We went to the lake to get away and relax, and a big part of relaxing was reading. We'd read whatever we could get our hands on -- sometimes reading two or three books over the course of two or three days. And we'd read wherever we could find a spot to lounge -- on the bunkbed, sitting on the lumpy couch, in the swing, sprawled on a dusty chaise lounge. But whatever and wherever, we read. And we loved it.
So it's no surprise to me today that summer reminds me of reading. And summertime reminds me of the books I devoured growing up. And it's in tribute to those books that I write today's post.
So what books did I consume those many summers ago?
A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Follow My Leader, by James B. Garfield
Ginny's Babysitting Business, by Catherine Woolley
Sal Fisher at Girl Scout Camp, by Lillian S. Gardner
Nancy Drew, by Carolyn Keene
Beezus and Ramona, by Bevery Cleary
Ellen Tebbits, by Beverly Cleary
Ramona and Her Father, by Beverly Cleary
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, by Tim O'brien
Summer of the Monkeys, by Wilson Rawls
Superfudge, by Judy Blume
Little House on the Prairie series, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Charlotte's Web, by EB White
Over the course of the years, those books I owned as a kid disappeared to Book Heaven, never to be held or read by me again. So several years ago, when my book nostalgia set in, I started scouring used book stores and online auctions for the books I loved so much. I didn't just want to buy the most recent publication of the book, I wanted the copy that looked like the one I read 20 years ago. After all, the covers of said books influenced me just as much as the contents. Somehow, a 2000 publication of Beverly Cleary wouldn't be as magical as a 1980s-ish publication. You have to admit, I'm right.
So here's to the good old days of lazy weekends in the mountains, curled up with the books that are now prized collections.
So it's no surprise to me today that summer reminds me of reading. And summertime reminds me of the books I devoured growing up. And it's in tribute to those books that I write today's post.
A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Follow My Leader, by James B. Garfield
Ginny's Babysitting Business, by Catherine Woolley
Sal Fisher at Girl Scout Camp, by Lillian S. Gardner
Nancy Drew, by Carolyn Keene
Beezus and Ramona, by Bevery Cleary
Ellen Tebbits, by Beverly Cleary
Ramona and Her Father, by Beverly Cleary
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, by Tim O'brien
Summer of the Monkeys, by Wilson Rawls
Superfudge, by Judy Blume
Little House on the Prairie series, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Charlotte's Web, by EB White
This was and is one of my very most favorite young adult books.
Over the course of the years, those books I owned as a kid disappeared to Book Heaven, never to be held or read by me again. So several years ago, when my book nostalgia set in, I started scouring used book stores and online auctions for the books I loved so much. I didn't just want to buy the most recent publication of the book, I wanted the copy that looked like the one I read 20 years ago. After all, the covers of said books influenced me just as much as the contents. Somehow, a 2000 publication of Beverly Cleary wouldn't be as magical as a 1980s-ish publication. You have to admit, I'm right.
So here's to the good old days of lazy weekends in the mountains, curled up with the books that are now prized collections.
2 comments:
Remember going to the used book store and stocking up before we'd leave for the weekend? The thought of having all of those "new" books to read was so exciting. And don't forget about reading all of the old People magazines in the closet! Such good dirt in there for us kids.
The old People magazines (where I learned the David Bowies eyes were two different colors!) AND Reader's Digest where I learned that Heroine was a DRUG and not a female do-gooder. Good times!
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