What Role Did Books Play In My Childhood

I was not a reader. In 6th grade, I was a member of the Black Bird reading group, the four of us sat, without teacher support, wasting time. Stay quiet, be anonymous. I hide a transistor radio in my coat pocket, earphone tucked away in my ear.

Expected to read my King James bible. Comics, heaven forbid.

Somehow I obtained a Hardy Boys book, The Tower Treasure, copyright, 1927. Eventually read them all. Next, John Steinbeck books. Thomas Hardy. Charles Dickens. Now a “readaholic,” my favorite is historical fiction, next, academic text.

Read to, read with, read daily, read more.