The family that reads…
Texas sister took this pic of Mom at Christmas, pretending to be scared of the storyline in Jude Deveraux’s book Always
I don’t know if you have ever heard the phrase “The family that prays together, stays together.”
Well, in our family, we joke about how our version of that phrase appears to be “The family that reads together, stays together.”
No, it doesn’t rhyme quite so nicely, but it certainly fits.
The Family That Reads Together: Kick off your shoes and pull up a chair to read a good book
Here we are at breakfast on vacation in St. Croix, and look! books and reading material are all over the place.
I asked my mom once why she thinks Texas sister (my only sister) and I became such avid readers. Of course, my mom is an extremely avid reader and I assumed we’d gotten it from her, but I was curious to hear what she thought.
Well, she told me how she and my dad always read to us a lot when we were little. That is, I’m sure, the main reason we got so interested in reading books. However, she also mentioned that she read all of the time, and we pretty much wanted to do whatever she did.
Makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it?
I remember living in southern Indiana, back when I could only read very simple children’s books. I remember that we would drive out of our little rural farm town and into The City to go to the City Library. That library seemed soooo huge. Mom would send us off into the appropriate children’s section so that we could pick out as many books as we wanted; perhaps there was a limit (?) but I don’t remember ever having to put a book back, so probably not. And I remember how I’d stand there for what felt like forever and come up with maybe one or two books. I’d get so frustrated, because I couldn’t find any books that I liked.
At some point, Mom would come over to check on me, and I’d be all upset. And she’d calmly scan the shelves and pull out one book after the other saying “Oh, I bet you’d like this one and this one.” And she’d hand me books with witches or fairies or princesses or little cuddly animals. And I’d get so excited, because, of course, they were all Exactly What I Wanted To Read. And I could barely wait to get home so that I could read them all.
We’d end up with this HUGE bag of books, and we’d laugh how they’d probably last us, oh, a week or two, and then we’d be back again.
Tangent about the library
This City Library in southern Indiana was also the first place I ever saw baby rodents. Texas sister and I vividly remember when the hamster (I think?) had a litter and how the pups were all red/pink and squirmy/gross looking. eeew. but a fascinating kind of ewww to a couple of little girls.
End tangent
As I’ve gotten older it is easy to recognize that the love for reading that my mom (and dad) instilled in me has gotten me where I am today as far as my education and schooling goes. And I thank you for that, Mom and Dad.
It is pretty rare to find Texas Sister or I without a book, particularly when we have some free time.
Texas sister reading a book while on vacation in St. Croix
Of course, since I am usually the one taking pictures, I don’t have a picture of me reading while on vacation.
But I laugh, because here is Texas Sister on a different vacation, and what is she doing?
Yup, reading. (and looking pretty happy with that drink in her hand too, eh?)
I probably shouldn’t comment on her enjoying a nice frosty beverage, because that would be like the pot calling the kettle black.
HB and I holding our nice frosty beverages at Dugan’s restaurant in St. Croix
And of course, who do you think Texas sister and I get that love of frosty beverages from? mmm?
Yup, Mom too. *grin*
As for my dad, you are more likely to find my dad having a conversation with someone than reading. But he usually has some reading material nearby. (yes, I get my gift of gab from him)
Dad’s feet are on the right. Note the magazine underneath the binoculars and hat. He is too busy talking to Texas sister’s fiance (feet on the left) to be reading his magazine. 
As you might imagine, Texas sister and I were attracted to men who love books too.
Texas sister took this pic of her fiance with a book
Pic I took of HB at breakfast in St. Croix.
Note the Janet Evanovich book in the foreground. And in the background, the pool, banana tree, and ocean. Gorgeous way to spend breakfast, eh?
Over the years, Mom has found a whole slew of authors that I’ve become hooked on as well (um, we’ll save the detail for a future post).
In fact, she is the one who introduced me to The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly.
It is fitting, is it not, that it is a book that has a title involving tea and flowers? Mom also got me hooked on chocolate, but that is also a story for another time.
Thank you, Mom, for introducing me to the joy that can be discovered among the pages of a good book.
I love you…
….and I’m sending a BIG HUG across the miles to you, today, and everyday.
jenski says:
Perfect timing on the post, Danielle!!! Books are great — and I finally have time to read fiction ones again! I’m out of practice, though — it took me a good half hour yesterday to not be distracted and just enjoy a book. I’m 2/3 of the way through Lake in the Clouds now, FINALLY!
(Sara Donati is great if you remember Danielle’s earlier: If I were a book, etc.)
Amber says:
Very nice post.
Is Texas sister’s husband holding Farhenheit 451 nook or is that another Ray Bradbury book he’s holding. Oh, and I’d take that Lizard on the “moon” picture and one of the water.
Oh the joy of books.
And moms.
Closet Metro says:
I’m in the middle of two books right now, and just received notification from the library that the last book I requested has come in. Faster, faster, must read faster!
SeaQueen says:
Ah reading, one of the joys of the weekend that I can’t give up even though I should really only be reading scientific papers and textbooks through mid-June. I’m saving up books that I think might actually take me a little while to read for when I’m on the boat this summer so I don’t have to lug too many in my bag. Luckily, there’s a reading library onboard and hopefully it’s stocked with something good.
Squirl says:
Danielle, reading is my passion. My father used to tell us stories. I don’t remember their reading to us a lot. But my mother and father were both avid readers.
My siblings, Bucky and Tardist, both got into reading a lot, too. My older and youngest brothers were never quite as “into it” as we were.
I got my gift of gab from my father, too. I guess it’s only natural, since he was 3/4 Irish. I guess if I’m not reading I’m talking.
Thanks for the post on reading. Can’t wait until July 16th. Harry Potter day!
Amber says:
There’s a Harry Potter day?!?! Wow.
I sooo want to curl up with a good book right now, but too much needs to get done. I imagine I will fall into temptation sooner or later.
I don’t know where I got my reading genes from. Maybe my mom. But she doesn’t read too much anymore.
In school, I was pretty much always the one to win book contests. I read ‘em all and then some.
My school’s library was kind of a downer at times, because they didn’t have very much (lack of funding) but I made the best of it. I just bought my own. Ohh the collection of books I have.
And Scietific American. Andy says I should really throw those away, but it’s a little hard to let go 4 years worth of good stuff. Those things are like National Geographics to me.
As are all my books.
poopie says:
Very cool Danielle. Can we go on vacation sometimes???
Trainwreck says:
If I remember correctly, that is ‘The October Country’ by Ray Bradbury, a collection of short stories.
Who knew you could get so sunburned reading a book, eh? Seems everyone is reading in the shade except one……
Danielle says:
ooooooo… she’ll get you for that one, Trainwreck.
hehehe
LadyBug says:
What a sweet post, Danielle, and a lovely tribute, not only to your mom, but to your whole family.
I love your pictorial essays. Of course, the “re-enactment” of Girlie-girl and the mouse is still my very favorite.
)
(I tried to post a comment yesterday, but got an error message. Hope this one goes through.)
Victoria Winters says:
Danielle,
For some reason I can’t comment on your older posts, but I wanted to say that I love your sister’s pottery! I did it for 3 years at a local community center just for fun and I realy miss it! Does she have her own business and kiln, or what? I think I’ll eventually post pictures of all of my hobbies (pottery, soapmaking, cardmaking, etc.) on my blog.
p.s. You never answered my question – are you getting a PhD and did you used to live in Evanston???
Amber says:
I love the re-enactment as well. It had me laughing so hard.
Mice are soo cute, but when one goes flying across the floor, I lift my skirt and jump onto the highest thing around.
And I used to have a mouse as a pet! ha!
Danielle says:
Ladybug, I am so glad you are back! I missed you, dearie. I couldn’t even get to my blog or email last night, even though I could get to other ones, so I just assumed the server was having a freak out night.
Victoria, I’m sorry I didn’t respond to your question. I thought you were being funny as in “why does he get to pick out the camera if you are the one getting your Ph.D.” sort of thing. Yes, I’m getting my degree. And I did indeed live in Evanston, once upon a time. Um, I did a post about the Ph.D. part on April 6th.
As for commenting on the old posts, I have had to turn off comments on posts older than a week or so because I was getting massive comment spam. I also used to get tons of trackback ping spam, but that seems to have been alleviated with some new blocking software. For the same reason, you can’t put code in the comments.
And I’m glad all of you got a kick out of my re-enactment photos. I’d wanted the mouse to have that “Oh no, Mr. Bill” look on its face. It helps me forget what it _really_ looked like as it stared up at me with its nose twitching and all… ugh.
Oh, and Amber, the Harry Potter day that Squirl referred to is the day the newest book is released. She did a post on it a week or two ago, and we discovered that a bunch of us are fans of the book series.
Danielle says:
*smacks forehead* I answered your old question, Victoria, and forgot to answer your new one.
To answer your question about my sister (correct me if I’m wrong Texas Sister or Trainwreck), she does pottery as a hobby and has been taking classes for a few (?) years now. She is at the point now where she is taking fairly advanced pottery classes. She has her own wheel at home but has her pieces fired in the kiln where she takes classes.
We are the very fortunate recipients of her talent.
Victoria Winters says:
No fair! I’d like to be on the receiving end of that!
I did do some searching to find out about your PhD, but I guess I missed that April post!