October: National Book Month and a Blog Give-away
My Dad gave me a love for words and books. One of my favorite memories of him, is sitting in his favorite chair reading. I grew up with lots of books in my home, but his collection was unusual; some were in different languages. When he connected with other immigrants, particularly tailors, he learned to converse in their language. He knew how hard it was to learn English, and he told me, “I wanted to make it easier for them.” It was a sad day when his eyesight failed, and he couldn’t read a book or newspaper.
When I worked as a speech-language pathologist in long-term health care, some of my patients had lost their ability to read fluently or recognize letters and words.
Do we take the extraordinary treasures of reading and the availability of books for granted?
Created in 2003 by the National Book Foundation, this month-long celebration focuses on the importance of reading, writing, and literature. So as we begin the month of October, I’d like to celebrate National Book Month and literacy with a give-away.
If you’re already a subscriber, join the celebration and leave a reading related comment: your favorite book, a memory about reading with someone, the joy of reading, or what you’re reading now.
If you’ve been directed to this this page, please subscribe. New subscribers and those who comment will be entered in a drawing to win one of my books-your choice featured on this site.
Drawing will take place on October 31 so you can spread the news to others and we can celebrate the whole month.
The Conversation
Reading is truly a gift. I love to read myself, but even more I love seeing my grandsons loving books.
Yes! Just this morning, I read snuggled with my three year old grandsons-the joy of reading and his presence were both priceless gifts.
Wonderful post Ms. Marilyn. My love for reading developed early in life. I would find anything I could to read and escape to the woods to get away from a less than stellar childhood. Wonderful books, like The Old Man and the Sea, Huckleberry Finn, and so many others would whisk me away to places and adventures where I could just be a little boy. What wonderful, treasured memories. Perhaps my love of reading is what led me to a love of writing. God’s blessings ma’am. Sure hope to see you at Enrich in a couple of weeks.
Likewise. I devoured books especially in the summer. One time while I was reading on my front porch, a “adult” in the neighborhood passed and stopped, asking. “Why are you reading? It’s summer vacation.” I just smiled. Now I’d answer, “why not?”. Thanks for your comment. Marilyn
I pray I will not take for granted the ability to see and read books. If my sight fails, I am thankful for audiobooks.
I agree, Melissa, and thankful too. Audio books are great traveling companions too. I recently had a change is vision which is correctable. Some not so fortunate. Marilyn
I have always loved reading. I would stay up until 3 am as a kid because I couldn’t put a mystery book down (I just had to know what happened!). Now, I’m blessed by being able to write as a ministry. Thanks for the post!
And write you do! 10 Iron Principles will be the first of many, I hope. Thanks for sharing how it started reading by flashlight. Marilyn
Love the quote you shared, Marilyn. Growing up, I didn’t realize the importance or beauty discovered in reading, but as an adult, I value it greatly. What a lovely giveaway!
Thank you Cathy. A friend, now in heaven, told me, “our houses would be clutter free if we didn’t have reading material”. We laughed because it was true! So glad you have discovered your gift of writing for us to read. Marily
Marilyn, we couldn’t afford to buy a lot of books when I was a kid, but whenever we got one of those Scholastic order forms, my parents always found the money to buy me the books I wanted, and they were true treasures for me! Now, I love buying books for my one grandson, and I especially love it when I can buy books for him that I actually know the author! That’s really special to me! Blessings – see you soon at Enrich!
Julie–yes! The scholastic book order form. I still see myself checking the boxes and then having to narrow them down. My Mom too, found the money. Do you believe I still have some of those books and passed them to my grands? When I see you we should compare–wonder if we ordered the same? Marilyn
I’ve always been a reader. I couldn’t tell you how or when it started, but words fascinate me.
One of my fave books is called Burn, by Erin Healy. A minor bit player has a line that totally revolutionized my thinking for weeks.
“The heart has two chambers; one for John, and one for Judas.”
Every day with every choice I get to love or betray the One I say I worship.
This is why I write. I long to share the gospel with the lost thru fiction.
Thank you for this post. It spoke deeply to me.
Kari
Thank you Kari for sharing your call and the profound quote that boldly characterizes our choices. Blessings as you write, Marilyn
As I read your wonderful post, Marilyn, I recalled these childhood memories which promoted my love of reading:
watching my parents read, hearing my mom recite poetry, buying books for .59 at the grocery store, watching Captain Kangaroo read “The Story of Ping” and “Make Way for Ducklings” on television, hearing teachers read after lunch, choosing books from the bookmobile, visiting the public library, and taking my books up into our treehouse. I loved sharing my love of books with my children and now adore doing the same with grandchildren.
Oh my Jeannie, what sweet trip down memory lane! Trips to the library, the bookmobile, and teachers reading after lunch. I share it all. I read the Betsy-Tacy series as a little girl, passed it on to my daughter and she then to hers. Yes, reading is a gift. Marilyn
Marilyn, what an amazing man you father was to pick up other’s languages. C. S. Lewis’ the Chronicles of Narnia series is my all time favorite reading.
Thanks Debbie. Yes he was. I still retrieve his wisdom in many ways and wish I had paid more attention. Mailyn
My mother turned me on to books. She was mother to eight children and one of the best-read women I’ve ever known!
Your Mom’s influence continues as books take you to many places today. She reminds me of Susannah Wesley! Thanks for sharing that sweet memory. Marilyn
I like reading and gaining more knowledge and understanding of a topic. However, I LOVE reading to my children and watching their faces light up. It’s almost as if they are being transported to another place. It’s magical. ❤
I agree! And now I get to do it again with grands. O the places we can go! Thanks for sharing, Marilyn
Some of my earliest memories are of my dad taking me to the grocery store to pick out a Little Golden book every week. He’d read it every night — at my request — until I had it memorized and could “read” it to him. Sweet memories, for sure.
Lori, I still have some of my Golden Books! Have you noticed the price difference? I have read some of my childhood books to my grands and the only word I can use to describe for those moments is “joy”. Thank you for sharing your sweet memory. Marilyn
[…] for sharing your reading experiences on the last blog post. I enjoyed reading every comment. Some took me to a trip down memory […]
Interesting how our divinely created minds can call up odors and fragrances from long ago.. I can still smell the friendly,, musty odor of the old, wood , stand-alone little library , a bike ride from my Coconut Grove home, where I devoured every Bobsey Twin and Nancy Drew book that lived there..
I agree. We are wired so that our senses can take us back to memories made long ago. I, too, enjoyed the Bobsey twins. Sue Barton and Cherry Ames-both a series about nurses were among my favorites. Thank you for sharing,, Marilyn