Reading Along With You

 I came across this picture the other day and had to pause. I couldn't help but think about my grandparents, and my parents and their examples of reading.  

I can never think of my Grandmother Ivie's house without thinking about the boxes and stacks of Reader's Digest magazines she had in her back entry hall. I know at one time one of my cousins and I discovered that she had copies of the magazine dating back more than twenty years.  Of course, why wouldn't she?  No matter what year or what month you opened there were articles and thoughts that were as timely in the present as they were when originally written.  Humor never grows old, and there were always several pages of  stories that would make you laugh.  Need an interesting topic for a school essay?  There was better place than the Reader's Digests in grandma's back room to find an interesting story or topic of discussion. I wouldn't be surprised if our first reading experiences began with reading to grandma.  Even if the newest volume was on the kitchen table, that didn't mean the previous three or four months were stashed away.  You could find a different month's worth of article in any room you wanted- the living room (you could read a joke during a commercial break), the bedroom (a nice story can give you pleasant dreams), and of course the bathroom (short or long reading material to help pass the time). 

My Grandma and Grandpa Pugh were also avid readers of the magazine, although Grandma Pugh didn't keep as many back copies. However, as they came monthly in the mail, and the articles fore timeless, there were still multiple months of the magazine available to browse through.  What Grandma Pugh did save were the Reader's Digest Condensed Books that came quarterly.  With the average of 4 -5 current books (fiction and non-fiction)  it didn't take long to gain a collection of good reading material.   I fondly remember reading not only the current writers, but also many classic stories.  I grew as a young lady to love these books and treasure them. I even borrowed many of these for use in English and Literature class discussions. 

With both sets of grandparents sharing the importance of this magazine, it is no wonder that my parents followed.  I would guess that mom and dad had a subscription to the Reader's Digest until the day dad died just short of turning 92.   One of the most heartbreaking things for me in cleaning out the den, was admitting that I didn't have room in my home to keep mother's collection of Reader's Digest Condensed Books.  I can't count, nor would I want to how many of those stories I read through the years, or how many mother used in some of her book club reading.  It didn't matter which book you pulled from the shelf, there were always multiple stories you just couldn't put down. 

It is my hope that someday my own children find themselves unsuccessful in cleaning out my attic or library.  May the love of reading good books and stories be passed from generation to generation, not only in my family but in yours as well.  

Have a wonderful day- Read a good story. 

Lifetime Learners

Our lesson in one of our Sunday church classes was on the importance of continuing to learn throughout our lifetime.  As I listened to the encouragement of the teacher I couldn't help but think of some of those in my life that taught the importance of continually reading and learning, no matter how old or what y our circumstances.

My Grandma Ivie was an example to me of someone who sought all kinds of learning.  As a young lady she taught school, so education was always important to her.  What I remember about her was that she was always wanting to know more, about anything or everything she could.  Living on a fixed income, grandma didn't have a lot of money to buy fancy books, but she always made sure she purchased the readers digest each month.  You could always find copies of the two or three most recent editions on her porch reading stand during the summer or on her bedside table in the winter.   This precious storehouse of knowledge was not just tossed but stored in boxes and sacks in the room beyond the kitchen.  I believe, even in her late 90s grandma went a month without her monthly issue of knowledge.  As we grew we realized  no matter what subject we were learning in school, grandma knew all about it and had interesting facts our teachers had never thought of sharing.  If any of us ever needed an idea for a report, essay or other school paper we could depend on grandma to find one or more copies of the Readers Digest that would have information on a topic of interest.   I wonder how many of us grandchildren still depend on that small little magazine to enlighten, educate,  make one ponder or enjoy a moment of laughter each month.

I thought also of my Grandfather Pugh.  Even at 98  years of age, you could be sure that he would find time to sit down and read .each day  He had an old stuffed armchair he would sit in as he read.  The table next to him always contained a stack of books he was in the middle of reading.  Grandpa rarely read a book cover to cover.  He would read, take notes, and then often set it aside and come back to it hours or days later with a new perspective and/or questions to find answers to.  Although he read and studied many church books, he was also well versed in the classics.  He could tell the story of almost any classic we were studying in school, explaining not only plot and characters, but the emotions of the characters that were often overlooked or too hastily passed over in discussions.  I used to think grandpa had the most wonderful library upstairs.  He had an entire wall covered with bookcases full of books he had read, and two more glass front bookcases that held well worn editions, and a few first editions, and collections of college textbooks, reference books and school books.  While it sometimes seemed like a mess to grandma and I, grandpa knew where every book belonged.  He always knew if someone borrowed a book, and if  asked if he had a particular book or one containing a specific story, it would take him only a few minutes to hand you exactly what  was asked for (or needed).

So with this kind of a heritage is it any wonder I enjoy reading (and writing.)? I have been so blessed with wonderful examples of how to continually grow and learn, no matter what my present circumstances may be.  I hope that in some way I can reach a level even close to what they achieved and taught.  I guess, that itself, is part of the lifetime of learning - patience and perseverance.  

Old Read - New Insight

I did it again.  I read a book I have already read and I enjoyed it.  Can you believe that?  Some people would think I was crazy.  From comments I hear often, reading a book a second or third time is not the same as watching an old favorite movie for the fourth or fifth time this year.

I already knew what was going to happen, when it would happen, who it was going to happen to, how it would change things and even whether there was a sad or a happy ending, but I read it anyway.

 This time as I read I could let go of the emotions of wishing something would turn out a certain way, the anxiety of waiting to find out if something was or was not going to happen, wondering who the mystery character was or why he was involved in his hidden acts.  I didn't have to feel stressed not knowing how many more pages I had to read before the chapter ended and trying to read them as fast as possible in the little time I had.   This time I could enjoy the characters and get to know them.  This time through the characters were more than just names on a page, they were people who were going to face challenges, and I could see how they either did or did not prepare for what was to come.  I could relax and feel the emotions they had rather than pushing aside the feelings in my my haste to turn a page or finish a chapter as quickly as possible.  

This time as I read I could enjoy the style of the writer, the way the story flowed and moved, or didn't move at all.  I could enjoy what the writer pointed out about life, decisions and values.  I could enjoy the writer's views as well as the views of the characters.  I could think about how the values were similar or dissimilar to my own.   I could take time to ponder what I thought myself about the problems the characters faced or their particular personalities or how either I or someone I knew had faced those challenges.  

I had previously read the majority of the chapters of this book through a blog that the writer had over a year ago.   She shared a new chapter twice a week for several months.  Due to family responsibilities she paused in her blogging, but shared an occasional update that she had changed a few things in the story, including the ending.  So when I stumbled across another post the other day, and found that she had published the book I was anxious to read it.  So I downloaded the book  Under My Neighbor's Roof by Melinda Porter Wilden to my Kindle.   I was pleased with some changes I felt she had made.  I liked the changes in the ending she had made.  She added a smoother ending to a variety of the story lines while leaving an opening for follow-up for others.  I have already looked to see if she is working on anything else, and found two chapters of another story.  I guess I will need to check on this writer again in the near future.  

So would I do this again?  You bet.  I have already gone to my home library and browsed the shelves, reminding myself of the hours of enjoyment I have found in the pages of some of these books.  What did I enjoy about each one of them?  Why did I buy that one? Why did I save this one but not the other one by the same author?  Maybe I will even go buy a set of books I have been longing to reread but gave away to a friend a few years ago and they moved before returning them.