What She Said: Thoughts on Reading and Language

On Mother's Day

My mom taught me to read, and to love reading.  Beginning with Highlights for Children, moving on to Little Golden Books, and graduating to The Black Stallion, Big Red, and The Boxcar Children, we read to each other every night before bed.  To this day, I’ll read just about anything that presents itself, whether it’s a cereal box or a New Yorker profile of some famous Italian shoe designer.

Mom was an avid science fiction reader in the 1950’s, when it wasn’t quite the thing for suburban housewives.  I don’t imagine many mothers introduced their daughters to Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story The Yellow Wallpaper in those days.  There were limits, though; when she caught me reading Marjorie Morningstar, she confiscated it pretty fast.

I experienced the thrill of anticipation every year when our school library held its book fair in November.  My sister and I were encouraged to make lists of books we wanted, but we didn’t know which ones we would receive until Christmas morning.

In the 21st century, reading material is everywhere and the options are many.  I don’t have a Kindle or a Nook or an iPad or any other e-reader yet; although I read news, blogs, and articles on line every day, when I head out to the backyard to veg, I want a book or magazine with pages that turn.

In future posts, this blog will explore the world of reading and language.  Lamorinda is rich in readers, authors, book groups, and – as we know from Patch – commenters; so I expect we’ll have a lively conversation.  In the meantime, say a word of thanks for the parent or teacher or other individual who taught you to read, and to love reading. 

Note: I first referred to the author of The Yellow Wallpaper as Shirley Jackson, which is incorrect. The author of the work is Charlotte Perkins Gilman, not Shirley Jackson.