Reading Part One – Why Do I Read?

 

Reading Part One – Why Do I Read? 

When I was a child, Mrs. Gilbert lived across the street and made Barbie clothes. One day, she asked me if I wanted some, and I told her I spent all my birthday money on books. She suggested I get a library card.

That day, I realized I liked books a lot more than dolls.

I don’t remember learning how to read, but I do remember that it influenced everything else I did in school. I didn’t like memorizing dates and facts in history class, but I loved reading the stories of ancient civilizations in my textbooks.  Math worksheets were tedious, but a good story problem meant I was helping Tommy count his apples. And when Language Arts met in the library from time to time, it was a religious experience.

As an adult, I enjoy talking to others about what I am reading. I take book recommendations regularly from AARP, Reece Witherspoon and Becky Mallory. I was once in a book group where Kathy led the discussions and then offered refreshments that were planned carefully to go with the theme of the recent selection.

I am not very confident in groups of strangers, but when I learned that the Galena Park Library was offering a monthly book discussion, I decided it was time to join that fellowship of readers.

I read several of the monthly selections, but when the meeting nights arrived, it seemed there was a scheduling conflict, I wasn’t feeling well, or I had some other excuse to postpone my attendance.

Then, The Midnight Library  was the selected book for Shelf-ish. (Yes, Shelf-ish is the name of the program.) I knew this was a good read because I had read it. Several times.

Although I wanted to be part of the discussion, I was relieved when a family conflict gave me the excuse not to attend. And then relieved again when the conflict was cancelled, and I had no excuses. 

I walked slowly into the lobby of the library and noticed that Shelf-ish wasn’t on the weekly calendar. I walked even more slowly into the library and approached the very young librarian at the desk.  I apologized for getting the date wrong and even asked if the discussion was interesting. She explained that this was the regularly scheduled date, but that announcements had gone out incorrectly, and it was decided to go ahead with the incorrect date – which was the previous Wednesday. But nobody had showed up, so there was no discussion.

Are you as confused as I was?

The flow of conversation trailed off as she went to the back room, and I prepared to back away.

Then she reappeared with a book in hand, asked if I had my library card with me, and with a beautiful smile offered to check out James by Percival Everett so I could prepare for next month.

Why do I read? Because I love the adventures, both inside and outside the books.

Mrs. Gilbert, thanks for the advice. I am making good use of my library card.