Word is the herb and I'm deep like Bob Marley

Newer visitors to the site know that I'm not afraid to watch a little television.  In recent months, you've likely heard me profess my love for everything from "Party of Five" to "Miami Vice" to "Fantasty Island."  Hell, I even wrote an entire post about "My Name is Earl." 

However, those who know me well know that television is really my dirty little mistress.  Reading has always been the true love of my life and, ever since I can remember, books have always been one of my greatest passions. 

When I was a little kid, I used to freak my parents out by running away from home and going to the library.  Since my parents both worked full-time, I used to sometimes play hooky so I could stay home and read in peace.  Even in college, I remember a time when I stayed up for three straight days because I wanted to finish "Foucault's Pendulum."  So yeah, I admit it.  I'm a total book nerd. 

And while other kids were collecting baseball cards, stamps or coins, I was always collecting books.  I used to spend days foraging the catacombs of used-book stores and flea markets, hoping to unearth some hidden treasures.  To this day, my greatest discovery was a small collection of first edition hardcovers by Norman Mailer that I found at a yard sale in Berkeley.  During this period, he was one of my favorite authors and when I subsequently met him years later, he was kind enough to sign all of them for me.

At one point, I was such a complete and utter dork that I actually kept a list on my computer of all my favorite books.  I also kept a separate list of first edition books that I wanted to own at some point during the course of my life. (As a young child, I had visions of my adult home being very similar to Wayne Manor, replete with a Batcave, a sliding pole and a modified version of the Batmobile.  I always pictured myself reading my first editions in the library as Alfred served me mac and cheese on a silver tray.)   

Quick story about the BossLady...Somehow, when we were dating, BossLady found out about my nerd list.  After we got engaged, she started secretly researching internet databases of book collectors from all over the world.  Over a year later, she presented me with a wedding gift, a beautiful first edition hardcover of Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man," the book at the top of BOTH my lists.  My hands literally were shaking as I opened it.  To this day, it's my most prized possession.  Do you see why I love this woman?

Anyway, I tell you all of this only to explain why it's important to me that the Peanut share my love of reading.  Even though she's only 16 months old now, I can't wait for the day when she's as passionate about books as I am.  I long for the time when we can discuss books that she's read, what she got out of it, and whether she's interested in reading other works by the same author.  In the back of my head, I have this Norman Rockwell vision of the entire family curled up on the couch by the fireplace and spending quiet evenings immersed in our own books.

So, to this end, I spend a lot of time reading to the Peanut.  Whenever she's feeling a little calm, I'll pull her up on my lap and read something to her.  In a way, I guess I'm hoping that my love of literature will rub off on her. 

Unfortunately, I think books are my daughter's kryptonite. 

Don't get me wrong. She loves chewing on them.  She loves grabbing them out of my hand and tossing them at the dog.  And last week, she practically peed her pants when I slipped on one of her books and busted my ass on the living room floor. 

But most of the time?  Put a book anywhere near her and she'll run away from it like she's allergic.

Now, of course, being the totally obsessively neurotic freak-out parent that I actually hate, my head starts reeling with a bunch of imaginary "What If?" scenarios.  What if she NEVER enjoys hearing stories?  What if she NEVER develops the desire to read?  Even worse, what if she never LEARNS to read and becomes a functional illiterate?  What if her dislike of reading causes her to drop out of school?  What will she do then?  How will she survive?  OMG!

Sigh...well, at least she's pretty.

(Update:  Somehow, the Peanut must have known that I was going to put up this post.  Over the past few days, she's been pulling books off the shelf, bringing them over to me, and climbing herself into my lap so I can read to her.  I haven't been this happy since the day she was born!  Special thanks to one of my favorite bloggers and fellow reader, LandisMom, for preaching patience to me when I thought my daughter would never learn how to read.)

By the way, I just finished three books that I was reading simultaneously so I'm looking for a few good books to read.  What are YOU guys reading these days?  Got any recommendations? 

 

Comments

[Sheryl]

My husband and I are total book nerds too. She'll grow up to love books, don't worry. And when she reaches the stage where you're reading her a bed time story and she's wandering around the room, or drawing, don't worry she's still listening.

[Queen of Ass]

Captain Stinky and I have been reading since about 2 hours after he was born. Always at bedtime, we have a special ritual that involves at least 2 books for storytime. And now, he can't go to sleep without them, and he's the best reader in his class. And we both curl up on the couch under a blankie, each with our own books we're engrossed in. It's heaven!

[ChaEsq]

"Grammars of Creation," by George Steiner; "An American Childhood," by Annie Dillard; "The Future of Freedom," by Fareed Zakaria. Enjoy!

[Jonathan]

Long time reader, first time caller. Just you wait -- my daughter (4) has started reading to us. And that has made all the difference...

[concha]

i'm a huge fan of tibor fischer. he's a british bloke that a lot of people haven't heard of. incurably bitter, but hilarious. and be prepared to pull out the dictionary a few times. (but then again, you're pretty articulate. i'm sure you'll have to reference it less than i did.) the book "collector, collector" was my favorite.
steve martian's book of short stories called "pure drivel" and david foster wallace's "brief interviews with hideous men."

[Girl in the Locker Room]

From my top ten. You know I would not steer you wrong:
*The Things They Carried (Tim O'Brien)
*The Tennis Partner (Dr. Abraham Verghese - nonfiction)
*Fugitive Pieces (Anne Michaels)

these 3 books put a fist through your chest, clutch your heart and won't let go.

[jen]

Just cause everyone else says the other one, try this: The Cloud Atlas by Liam Callanan. Or Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard, if by some miracle you haven't yet read it (go, go, get thee to the bookstore!). Or The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich.

[Nothing But Bonfires]

Wondered what you thought of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close if you haven't read it yet. I loved it. Also, The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, which I see someone's already recommended. Enduring Love by Ian McEwan has a silly cover but is excellent.

I'm always been obsessed with the library, and still get excited when I realize I haven't been for a few weeks. Something about the way it smells.....and all those books just WAITING for me....

[OTRgirl]

I knew I wanted to marry Jrex when he saw my apartment and exclaimed, "I could never live here; there's not enough room for all my books!"

My parents raised us without a TV. My little bro had ADHD. Wouldn't, couldn't sit still to read until Junior High. When he started checking out Sweet Valley High from the library (blond twin girls, numerous adventures, total trash reading). He claims no memory of said incidents. Now he reads all the books recommended above while I tend toward the trashy novels (mostly fantasy: Guy Gavriel Kay, Patricia McKillip, and George MacDonald).

In the grown-up department, I second the Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. She writes an amazing chapter on Seeing. I also enjoyed Secret Life of Bees and Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

[John Hane]

The Deathbird Stories by Harlan Ellison

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Shaddrak in the Furnance by Robert Silverberg

[GIRLS GONE CHILD]

As long as she's cute and she is VERY cute.

Nah, she'll be fine. Archer could care less about books as well which breaks my heart because I am the girl with floor to ceiling stacks of books framing every room in the house.

A la book rec's I am currently reading "People of Paper" by: Salvador Plascencia. Great book. Also reading, "Weight" by: Jeanette Winterson. All of her works are amazing. Highly recommend her shizit.

Best to Metrofam.

[PhillyDad]

As an English lit major in college, I also had high hopes of our son (15 mos) enjoying books. Thankfully, the kid seems to LOVE books, and will sit and "read" them for literally a half hour at a time on his own (usually they are upside down, which bugs me, but my wife calms me down). He also loves to be read to. I always thought those books with the lift-up "windows" were silly, but he really likes them. I think they allow him to interact with the book, despite not being able to read. That can only be a good thing.

A recommended book for Peanut and you: "Daddy loves me" (my wife got this for me to read to him, and I got all choked up the first time I read it).

For you:

Non-fiction: I've been on a historic non-fiction bent recently. "1776" Yeah, it seems to be a trendy book to read right now, but I got pretty into it after the first chapter or so. A really interesting look at George Washington and his shortcomings in the early part of the Revolutionary War. "Blue Latitudes" by Tony Horwitz. Half travel narrative, half chronicle of the explorer Captain Cook. Horwitz writes well, and makes a potentially bland historical/biography very interesting by weaving in his retracing of Cook's journeys.

Brainless novels (good train commuting reading): Stuart Woods' titles, especially his first book, "Chiefs." Well-constructed plots, interesting characters, and an easy, fun read.

[TANYETTA]

I'm currently reading-- Eats Poops and Leaves by Adam Wasson (hilarious)

[Kathy]

As far as the love of reading goes... My husband and I and our two sons (ages 10 and 11) recently lived through multiple hurricanes, often without power, in south Florida. On many nights all 4 of us read by candlelight to pass the time away. My sons have read all the Harry Potter books at least 4 times each. We go to the library every week so they don't run out of books to read. It fills my heart with joy to watch my children reading!

[smriti]

I share the same dread that my son will not love books. I bought books for him before he was born. Unfortunately you dont really get bath books etc in india and I try really hard. Frankly i dont know why i try because he barely spares them a glance and prefers chewing them to reading if at all... i cant even get him to sit in my lap and flip....
sigh... well atleast i dont let him watch tv so there might be some hope.

[Nico]

Date: 3/8/2011 | Hwy 59 from bottom of Intracoastal Canal Bridge to Main Beach Gulf Shores. Price: Free to pliubc.Laissez les bons temp roulet! (Let the good times roll!) Parade kick off at 10:00 a.m. Get ready to shout, Hey, Mister! Throw me a Moon Pie! Future Mardi Gras Dates: March 8, 2011, February 21, 2012, February 12, 2013, March 4, 2014 and February 17, 2015.

[Sauni]

get them into eacudtion and higer eacudtion and that will be thier success for life! thats defiantely 1 heck of a money making project that will be rewarding and successful and then they can be teachers and help others and pass down knowledge etc and work too. also, stop cheap labour. they are humans just as much as every other human in the world. no1 is superior than the other. not even the kings, queens and presidents!

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