Slice of Life: By the Book

I’m in a memoir writing group. Last month, Shannon invited us to write our very own By The Book interview (like they do with authors in the NYT Book Review). I didn’t get mine written because I was having too much fun in Oklahoma at my 50^th high school reunion. Because it’s almost time for another month’s prompt, I’m answering Shannon’s questions for my slice of life this week. I probably could have answered one question per slice, but I need to catch up and be ready for the next  prompt.

 

• What books are on your night stand? 

The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger (just got this from a new Greensboro friend at book club this afternoon & started it right away), Every Needful Thing: Essays on the Life of the Mind and Heart edited by Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye and Kate Holbrook, The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs by Laura Tremaine, Finding Your Family Tree: A Beginner’s Guide to Researching Your Genealogy by Sharon Leslie Morgan, The Essential Questions: Interview Your Family to Uncover Stories and Bridge Generations by Elizabeth Keating, PHD, Just Jerry: How Drawing Shaped My Life by Jerry Pinkney, The Path to Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy edited by James Crews, and Our Day of the Dead Celebration (picture book) by Ann Aranda.

 

• What was the last great book you read?

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

 

• How do you organize your books?

I organize my books by shelves: unread fiction and nonfiction, fiction I’ve read that I want to keep, professional teaching books, books of religious/spiritual nature, poetry, family history/writing/inspirational, children’s seasonal books, picture books related to family history, children’s picture books, children’s poetry books, middle grade fiction, and cookbooks.

 

• What is the best book you ever received as a gift?

Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary is a special book to me. It was repurposed by my friends at Islander Middle School when I retired. They wrote their sentiments on pages of the original book. From the opening lines on its release date of June 19, 2014 with a lovely book description to the inspirational quotes, to the original poems and precious notes from my teaching colleagues, this book is one I’ll always treasure.

 

• Has a book ever brought you closer to another person, or come between you?

My daughter Sara and I read Joan Bauer’s Rules of the Road aloud to each other when she was a teenager. I can remember when we started it while waiting in line for gas at Costco. I adore strong female characters!

We continue to pass books back and forth to each other. It’s always fun to share book love with her whether it be our latest picture book find, a book club selection, or just something we pick up for fun.

 

• What kind of reader were you as a child?

I loved books. I remember my sister Kay reading to me. She instilled a love of story in me. I remember hearing Tales of the Arabian Knights and other fairy tales as bedtime stories with her. She’s nine years older than me. Once I learned to read, I discovered a joy that sustains me to this day. I am a frequent library user.

Some of my happiest memories are the libraries that I’ve loved throughout my life. My friend Dortha and I loved to spend our summer days with a walk to our Carnegie public library to check out books, followed by a stop at Rexall Drugstore on the way home for ice cream.

I devoured the Bobbsey Twin books, Nancy Drew mysteries, Trixie Belden and the Cherry Ames nurse series. I was convinced I wanted to be a nurse until my ill-fated summer as a candy striper. As a teenager, I moved to Victoria Holt, Catherine Cookson, and Gwen Bristow’s Civil War trilogy (all influenced by my sister Kay’s reading tastes).

 

• Which writers, dead or alive, would you invite to a literary dinner party?

Kate DiCamillo, Lois Lowry, Sheila Turnage, Laurie Halse Anderson, and Jacqueline Woodson. I revere all of them, along with many others, for their contributions to middle grade literature. I would love to hear their perspectives on writing for young readers in today’s world.

 

• Describe your ideal reading experience.

You'll find me in my pajamas on a snowy day beside a roaring fire, with a mug of hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies still warm from the oven accompanied by a wonderful novel I can dive into and get lost in with no regard for chores, laundry, or outside responsibilities.

 

• What genres do you like and what genres do you avoid?

My favorite genres are historical fiction, picture books, and poetry. I like middle grade fiction because I'm still a sixth grade teacher at heart. I tend to avoid nonfiction, but thanks to our book club’s ardent interest in this genre, I have read many nonfiction books and even liked more than a few. I don’t generally pick up science fiction or thrillers, and I abhor horror (because I am easily frightened!). But I do love a cozy mystery.

 

• What do you plan to read next? 

The Hyperion Network by Laura Manning

I know I said that I didn’t like thrillers, but this was written by a classmate that I’ve known since elementary school. It’s always good to stretch one’s horizons!