Childhood Reading – Does it shape you?
Childhood Reading – does it shape a person?
My first reaction is, how can it not? I grew up in a family that didn’t value books. But through school we were taught to read and I found that losing myself in a book was a great escape. I traveled worlds far and wide while hiding in my room. As a young person, I remember reading 1984 by George Orwell. Keeping in mind I am a baby boomer and my formative years were during tension filled times with Russia, Cuba, Vietnam, Assassinations of the Kennedy’s, Martin Luther King, the Patty Hurst kidnapping, Jimmy Hoffa disappeared, Paul Getty was kidnapped, and on and one. It was a time of fear and terror and reading 1984 kept me awake at night wondering if “Big Brother” really was watching us and if I was bad, would I just disappear? That book filled my innocent life with fear and worry.
If I recall, that summer I didn’t read anything, I was too scared. My parents were negative people and the news was all about the bad things going on in life and they took every opportunity to whine and complain about the “state of the world” and how “life would never be the same”. ***hides under bed***
I gradually came out from under the bed and realized if I didn’t want to squander my life in doom and gloom, I’d better find something else to divert my attention. I read various books throughout my life, romance, sci fi (which I enjoy), suspense, but I always come back to romance.
Did reading shape me as a child? Absolutely. I learned I could travel without a car, I could shop without money, I could leave earth without a rocket ship. What did you read as a child and did it shape you?
Join us as we discuss childhood reading. simply follow the directions below.
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Our environment has such a huge impact on us. I am glad that you didn’t let their negativity stop you.
I like that — “Leave earth without a space ship.” Reading has always been a portal to other worlds for me and writing is an extension of that.
I was lucky because my mother was a big reader, and I inherited her love of books. She used to subscribe to Reader’s Digest condensed books (Anyone else remember those?) and I’d read those and then search out the un-condensed versions.
What a shame that your parents didn’t value books, but luckily you found your own path to reading. Good for you, Patti!