Autobiography #2 - Another Chapter about Literacy

Books were not important in my home. I don’t remember having a lot of books – definitely not enough to require a bookshelf. I do remember that in our first house in N.J., we had a "library." It was more a title than an actual room that functioned as a library. The only books I remember my parents having were encyclopedias which came in handy when school projects were assigned. My grandparents on my dad’s side had books and they always seemed to be reading magazines or a book of some type. I looked at their stacks as clutter.
I really don’t remember a book having an effect on me during my early school days. For some reason "The Cricket in Times Square" comes to mind as a book I enjoyed in middle school. I believe this was the first "big" book I read cover to cover. It appealed to me because it was a story of triumph. Okay – it was a cricket, but he had his day, his moment. It was a book I purchased through one of the scholastic book clubs. I loved to be able to buy things so when I was allowed to spend $5.00 on books; I bought them because I could – not because I wanted to read them. During my elementary and high school education I only read because I was told to do so. Even though I enjoyed "The Cricket in Times Square," it didn’t prompt me to pick up more books.
It was when I was in my late 20’s that I read for the sake of reading. A co-worker always had a book with her. She read every chance she had. When she told me how much she loved reading and about the books she read, I thought she was a bit lonely but I became interested nonetheless. She lent me a book. I knew I had to read it because I she was going to ask me about it when I returned it. That was all it took. Since then reading has become one of my favorite pastimes. The last book I read with real enjoyment was one in Diana Gabaldon’s "Outlander Series." During the Winter break I read "The Shack," "The Art of Racing in The Rain," and "Water for Elephants." The reason I note Gabaldon’s books as most enjoyable is because of the way Gabaldon brings her characters to life. You feel as though you too travel back in time to 18th Century Scottland.