Let’s talk about anything bookish!
Happy Monday, Wormies! I want to apologize for being MIA last week because – @adulting. However, that time offline got me thinking about who influenced me to read. There really isn’t a clear answer since I don’t really remember much of my earlier years. But I do remember my childhood and the stories and of course, the books that I read. Most of all, I remember my great-grandmother who told me stories.
Let’s back up a bit and let me tell you a little bit about my childhood. I was basically raised by a whole lotta people and on weekends, I would stay at my grandparent’s house. My great-grandmother also lived at the house (she’s my grand father’s mother). It was around this time that she told me a lot of stories, which I later found out were Aesop’s Fables! I didn’t know where my great grandmother got these stories from, but it seemed like she just made things up as she went along. I can vividly remember the story about the race between the animals.
She also told me a lot of stories about the war – World War II. I guess that’s why I love watching documentaries a lot. Especially historical documentaries.
Another treasure trove that I discovered at my grandparent’s house was the books! I never really brought them home with me, so I would look forward to the weekend to read them! One of the books that I remember reading was a compilation of stories. The book was called Cavalcades and for the life of me, I can’t find a copy anywhere! I may be remembering the title wrong, though. I remember the cover vividly an orange and yellow cover with an artistic flying bird. Okay, so I quickly did a Google search for it and I FOUND A COPY ON AMAZON! And before you ask, I already bought it! OMG, my childhood! Also, before you ask, I Googled this book a few years ago trying to find a copy and it did not pop-up!
I also found a few books on Greek Mythology for kids that were illustrated! And a copy of this huge book with barely any illustrations – Classics of Children’s Literature which contained a lot of stories that I loved and limericks! I wish I can find that copy now. I will have to do this when I visit my hometown next time. Sadly, Google wasn’t any help to me this time.
It was really nice going down memory lane and remembering my great-grandmother. She passed away when she was 92, back in 2001 and I dearly miss her. I also need to look for photographs of her.
Who was the person (or persons) who encouraged or influenced your love of reading?
This is so cool! Nobody in my life reads, so I guess I can thank Stephen King for making me a reader. I discovered his books when I was 11 and then wanted to read EVERYTHING!
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…The Sunday Post #186
Any book helps! Seriously, I was watching a documentary last week and I thought about my great-grandmother! 🙂
My mother’s side of the family is filled with readers. I remember visiting my grandmother as a kid, and she had stacks of Harlequin Romances all over her room. She loved them! And, I guess, she instilled a love of reading in all her children (all 9!), because all my aunts and uncles pleasure read.
OMG! That’s awesome! I think my aunt used to read my Sweet Valley books… but she’s not really what you would call a big reader 🙂
No one in my family is a big reader, but when I started to show an interest in reading as a child my parents were both really encouraging. My mum would take me to the library all the time after school so I could pick out books, and they always bought me books for Christmas and my birthday, so I’d definitely say they influenced me!
Great post! 🙂
Laura recently posted…10 Fantasy Books On My TBR List
That’s awesome! Same with my parents, too! I used to ask for books for birthdays and Christmas 🙂
I love that you have these memories of your great-grandmother’s stories! My mom was definitely my biggest bookish influencer growing up.
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction recently posted…An Exciting Announcement…
Yes! She was something! I don’t think she even finished elementary because of the times then the war.