6. March 2nd is National Read Across America Day. Tell us about your favorite childhood book.
When I was in fifth grade I read the first book in the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery:
“Anne of Green Gables is a 1908 novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery (published as L. M. Montgomery). Written for all ages, it has been considered a classic children’s novel since the mid-twentieth century. Set in the late 19th century, the novel recounts the adventures of Anne Shirley, an 11-year-old orphan girl, who is mistakenly sent to two middle-aged siblings; Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, originally intending to adopt a boy to help them on their farm in the fictional town of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island. The novel recounts how Anne makes her way through life with the Cuthberts, in school, and within the town.”
I loved Anne with an E so much that I begged my Mom to buy me Anne of Avonlea, the second book in the series. She had agreed to purchase each consecutive book in the series as long as I finished the preceding book and so began my love affair with reading. Even now, I resist from purchasing Anne of Green Gables parfanalia.
Try and tell me I don’t need this Avonlea print:
Convince me that my mornings would not start off on the right foot with this Anne mug:
Make me believe I shouldn’t have a crocheted version of Anne in my nonexistent reading nook:
Who wouldn’t want Anne and her best friend Diana in the form of peg dolls? The perfect representation of, not just friendship, but kindred spirits!:
You can see how difficult it is to love a book in such a way. None of my kids showed interest in reading it, so none of them would appreciate the crocheted doll like I do, which is why I really can’t buy it. I just keep Anne in my heart where she belongs.
What book is responsible for turning you into a reader OR is there a book you remember reading that made you hate reading?
John Holton says
Do you remember the TV series that ran on PBS stations in the ’80’s? Meagan Follows played Anne, and did a beautiful job of it. The series itself was really well done. (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088727/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_82). If you see it on one of the streaming services, watch it. I remember we really loved it.
Mama Kat says
I do remember that series! I actually just started watching the Netflix version. I’m only on episode 1 but it looks pretty good so far!
Abby says
I sadly missed out on this book series, I think I would have loved it. But just as well. I don’t have a reading nook for crochet Anne either.
M. says
What a lovely post. It’s fascinating to hear about other people’s personal histories as readers and the books that shaped them. Thank you for sharing.
I have an entry for this week’s workshop. I hope that’s okay, even though I am late. I also hope it’s okay to just post it within my comment.
Mama Kat’s workshops for the writer
are an inspiration igniter.
They’ll get you off your duff
so you can write some new stuff
and edit until it sounds right…er.
Kim says
Hey, Kat! It’s been a while. I hate that I keep missing these Writer’s Workshops – I may just start doing them a week behind. I read a lot of books that I really enjoyed as a child, but it wasn’t till I read The Outsiders as a pre-teen that I *really* got lost in a book. I really loved the classic, central theme of most of S.E. Hinton’s stories, and loved that S.E. Hinton was a woman who wrote about a family of disadvantaged, disaffected boys, and while she was still in high school.
Of course, I don’t like many Young Adult novels these days, but that was probably the book that sparked a real love of reading in me.
Patty says
Lovely post, Kat. Such nice memories of simpler times when a book could take us on a journey.
I went into my office library this morning and reached for one of my own childhood favorites, opened it in the middle and could recite the chapter, word-for-word. Years ago, books were all we had and when we enjoyed a story, or a series, we read them over and over.
And, yes…you DO need that Avonlea print!