Assignment 1

What is your earliest memory of reading? Although I don't remember the first time I read independently, I do remember that my mother took my to the public library at around age 4 and let me pick out books that I wanted her to read to me.
Who read to you? My mother read to me, but my father and grandparents would tell me Mother Goose stories and Brothers Grimm tales from memory.
Did they read to you often? My parents did not read to me that often, but my maternal grandmother would always tell stories before bedtime (she lived next door).
Did you ever discover, love, and devour an entire series of books? Yes, I loved the Hardy Boys Mysteries. Other girls my age liked the Nancy Drew books, but I thought the action and adventure was better in the Hardy Boys Books.
Did you like to read as a child? Yes.I was the first one in my first grade class to master reading (we didn't start in Kindergarten back in the stone age), and I devoured everything I could find. I even got to help some of the other kids read Little Pig...I was so sick of that book by the time it was over. LOL!
Was reading a joy or a struggle? I loved to read until... The books I read became assigned.When I was no longer free to choose the books I wanted to read I lost a great deal of interest.
Did your teachers read aloud regularly? My teachers in my early elementary grades read to the class, but after grade 4 the occassions were fewer. I do remember in the fifth grade Mrs. Freeman, an older teacher well past retirement age, read Charlie & the Chocolate Factory to the class. I remember most of us were on the edge of our seats to find out what happened next in the book.
What books did they read? Most of the literature that was read was the material included in the grade level literature book. The only occasion I can remember that something special was read to the class was the one I mentioned earlier.
Did a book ever make a difference in your life? Not in my early years or even in secondary school, but now as I am an adult - almost every book I read makes some impact on my life. The most important book I have ever read has to be the Holy Bible. I mean talk about life changing-that book has it all murder, intrigue, redemption...it's AWESOME.
Do you choose to read for pleasure now? Yes. I have read at least 15 novels over the summer.