Re-Reading My Childhood
One of the things I love about my childhood is that my parents always valued the magic of reading. I remember so many wonderful adventures to our local library where I would pick up all the books I could carry. Books were read to us before we went to bed. Resulting in some misadventures like all of us crying so hard my mom had to stop reading Heidi. If we really wanted a book my parents would get it for us. Not as a gift or a loan but just because reading was always encouraged in our house. That being said there are lots of books that defined my childhood. If we’re talking about re-reading my childhood I’d have to start with these books.
The Bad Beginning
Let’s start at the beginning, the Bad Beginning as it is. My parents believe that there is always one book that kicks off a child’s love of reading. That one book that makes you realize you love reading. For me, that book was Lemony Snickets Series of Unfortunate Events. I was a very sensitive child so these books were never recommended to me because my parents thought they would upset me.
I’ll be totally honest, I mostly started reading The Bad Beginning because it had a hardcover and jagged edges that stirred my imagination. In my child brain, it was the type of book that an ancient librarian would carry around with them because it held all the secrets of the universe. So I picked it up and read it… and then read the next 12 and I haven’t looked back since. This is my book that kicked off a love for reading so it had to come first.
Ballet Shoes
I can’t remember exactly when but some year this book was given to me by my uncle for Christmas. At the time I was in ballet myself so I felt an immediate affinity for this book. Never mind I’m much more a Petrova than a Posy. It’s only now that I am looking back I see the influences from this book that still show up in my everyday life. I am still always on the lookout for a pearl necklace like Posy had.
It baffles me that Ballet Shoes was first published in 1936. I’m sure with an adult awareness I could see the clear indicators of the time frame in which this book takes place. However, when I was first reading it the book felt completely contemporary and exciting. So re-reading my childhood absolutely requires this classic getting another re-read.
Anne of Green Gables
My Granny was a teacher when she was younger and education was incredibly important to her. I can remember in such clear detail to this day when she pulled a porcelain Anne Shirley doll from the back of her closet and told me it would be mine when I read Anne of Green Gables by myself. At the time this felt like a nearly impossible task! But I did it and the doll was mine.
I’m not sure why I was so desperate to get this doll because I spent the rest of our time together being very afraid it would come to life and kill me. Doll eyes are soulless. While I no longer have that much beloved and equally terrifying doll I still have a copy of the book. I actually went on to read the entire series and I still love them dearly.
Down the Rabbit Hole
I don’t know where I got this book from, as far as I can remember it just materialized at some point. There is a chance this book was my brothers and I commandeered it for myself. But I read it and I loved it so much that I kept it for myself. I’ve moved a ton in my life and that required downsizing all my things. In all the shuffling around I left behind almost all my books. Down the Rabbit Hole survived all of that and is still with me. It’s the first book I can remember re-reading! That was something I NEVER did but I loved this so much I’ve read it many times.
Down the Rabbit Hole is a mystery being solved by a young girl but it is also about theatre, and film, adventure, tragedy, lost love. Writing this is making me want to read it all over again.
Slaughter House Five
Now, this isn’t a book for children but I am including it because for me it signaled in some ways the end of my childhood. It was given to me by another Hannah who I admired so much. She was so sophisticated, intelligent, and just cool. She found this book used and wrapped it up and gave it to me. I think I was 15/16 at the time and it blew my mind that she would give this book to me. Those years were really painful for me and my self-confidence was pretty low. I’d spent years at this point with teachers making me feel stupid and small. But when she gave me this book I could not believe she thought I was smart enough or cool enough to read Vonnegut.
But this was Hannah K and she was one of the smartest people I had ever met. So, if she thought I could read Slaughter House Five then I could read Slaughter House Five. Period. The copy she gave me had random passages and words highlighted in purple and reading it was such a wonderful experience. I was reading the story but at the same time, I was trying to figure out what the previous owner had found worth highlighting in this story. It makes me sad to this day that I don’t know where my copy has ended up because it was so precious to me.
What Books Did You Love Growing Up?
I hope you liked my little ode to the books I grew up with. They all have a special place in my heart and I would pick each of them up to read again. In writing this I see how precious these memories are and it has me very inspired to give the books I love to the people I love.
I’d love to hear what books made your childhood magical.
What books would you give to someone you admire?
Hannah
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