Born to Read

I was blessed by being born into a family of readers. One of the first lessons I remember learning is that “books are your friends.” My parents taught my brothers and me to treat books with respect, to cherish the words within them, and, when we had a question, to “look it up.” That love and respect for books and reading nurtured my love of learning and sense of wonder.

So, it’s hardly surprising that the only thing in my life stacked higher than my to-be-read and reads-in-progress piles is my pile of items needing filed. The following books have been pulled from my overflowing bookshelves and are either on my nightstand or next to my recliner — and are in various stages of read-ness:

• On Writing Well by William Zinsser — a MUST read by all who would write
• The Measure of a Lady by Deeanne Gist — a fun novel set during the California Gold Rush
• The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander — one doesn’t have to venture too far into one of her books to understand why she’s won so many awards
• Word Painting by Rebecca McClanahan — Tagline: A Guide to Writing More Descriptively
• Winning Every Day by Lou Holtz — yeah, I’m a sports fan. Besides, he used to coach the Razorbacks!
• Glenn Beck’s Common Sense — I’ve already pre-ordered his next book
• The Saga of the Pony Express by Joseph DiCerto — researching book two of my series
• Think Harmony with Horses by Ray Hunt (one of those Horse Whisperer guys) — Let’s just say I could be happy to live out the rest of my days without every straddling another horse, but since I need to know more about them. This book was loaned to me by one of my cowboy friends.
• Getting Things Done by David Allen — it’s almost comical that I own this book. And, yes, I’ve finished reading it. I just never put it away!
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain — my favorite book of all time. I read it every year or two, just for fun.
• Freedom by Any Means by Betty DeRamus — another research book for my series in progress. This one is about the Underground Railroad.
• Forbidden Fruit by Betty DeRamus — love stories from the Underground Railroad
• Spunk & Bite: A Writer’s Guide to Punchier, More Engaging Language & Style by Arthur Plotnik — Possibly one of the best writing books I own, it’s somewhat of a spoof on Shrunk & White’s rule book.
• And, of course, Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass — rarely a writing session goes by that I don’t refer to The Donald’s words of wisdom.

Last week, I was invited to join in the nation’s “United We Read” program and visited our local junior high school. I was a bit nervous about reading to seventh-graders — a tough crowd! I told the librarian as much, wondering about my choice of material. Without even hearing what I’d selected, she said, “It doesn’t matter what you read. They won’t listen. They’ll lay on the floor, sleep, giggle, talk to their friends, and pretty much ignore you.”

She went on to explain that the first period’s reader, the president of our Chamber of Commerce, read from the newspaper and told the kids how newspapers help businessmen and women keep up with current events. The next reader, a woman recovering from an injury and subsequent knee surgery, read an excerpt from a self-help book and shared how it had helped her keep from being depressed during her down time. The students paid no attention.

Then, she asked, “So, what are you going to read?”

“I’m going to read them a story.”

According to the program’s guidelines, we were supposed to read something that helps us in our work and explain to the students why our particular passage is helpful to us. Being a storyteller by trade (a.k.a. — writer), sharing a story seemed logical to me.

But I didn’t pick just any story — I read from Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories — “The Elephant’s Child.” Maybe it was more third-grade than seventh, but I gave the characters unique voices as I read. The students hung on every word and clapped when I finished. One student even stood up and clapped. The librarian later told me that was the best read of the day. I wasn’t shocked — not because I did so well, but because everyone loves a great story.

I told the kids that through reading could be anything they wanted. Go anywhere they wanted. Do anything they choose. Ah, the joy of words!

Writers, especially, can do as we choose. Just recently, I donned a glamorous gown and danced at the palace of Versailles; rode astride a galloping steed at break-neck speed, leaving a band of warriors in the dust; strung a rope around a bad guy’s throat; and even delivered a baby.

And, if I’m ever feeling full of ‘satiable curiosity, I can always venture down to the banks of the great grey-green greasy Limpopo River, all set about with fever trees, and ask the crocodile what he has for dinner.