The Books That Built Me
"I am a part of everything that I have read."
- Theodore Roosevelt
I have been a reader since I was very young. I'm not quite sure how young I was when I began reading, since my parents read to me extensively when I was small. While some childhood memories are distinct, the lines around learning to read are fuzzy. Did I read that, or did my mom or dad read it to me? By the time I was in early elementary school, circling dozens of requests in the Scholastic order forms handed out at school, my parents had discovered that the most effective form of punishment for misbehavior was to ground me from reading at home. A new book or a trip to the library, conversely, was an excellent reward.
So what books captured my attention when I was a child? V. Gilbert Beers' stories about Maxi and Mini Muffin helped distill the truths of Scripture into practical life application for children. Dozens of other Bible story books (mostly Arch Books from the 1970s and early '80s) helped shape my worldview, as well. C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia series about the magical world beyond - yet paralleling - our own enchanted me. (Aslan 'lived' under the picnic table in my yard for a while and we went on long walks together.) Laura Ingalls Wilder's series about frontier life captivated me.
Like many little girls, I adored all things horse and hound. Marguerite Henry's horse stories whisked me away on horseback. (And my parents - bless them - planned part of a family vacation around attending the Chincoteague Pony Penning, where I met the real Maureen Beebe. Yes, I was a gushing fangirl.) Walter Farley's The Black Stallion series took me for many wild rides. Albert Payson Terhune's classic dog tales wagged their way into my heart, as did Wilson Rawls' Where the Red Fern Grows.
Thankfully, my parents saw the value in purchasing some of those requested books. While many of the early requests included typical 1980s series, such as The Saddle Club and The Babysitters Club, one appeal introduced me to another long-time friend - Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. (My mother has often remarked that apart from the red hair and the fiery temper, Anne was my fictional doppelgänger.)
As I grew older and my parents decided food, electricity, and private school tuition were higher priority budget items than my insatiable desire for books, I ransacked the attic and discovered my mom's books. I developed a soft spot for sappy romances, thanks to Grace Livingston Hill. Emily Loring's novels added a touch of intrigue, but were still pretty safe reading for a young budding romantic. Janette Oke's Love Comes Softly and Canadian West series opened the door to my fascination with historical fiction.
Since my parents (wisely) weren't comfortable with setting a ten year-old girl free in the adult section of the public library, thank goodness my church found value in furnishing its members with a well-stocked library. I'm sure they purchased wonderful books about theology, Christian living, and church history, but my interests veered toward fiction. In the late 1980s, I devoured the early part of Gilbert Morris's House of Winslow series and Michael Phillips and Judith Pella's early collaborative works, kindling my love for historical fiction. In middle school, however, I stumbled upon a new author whose work solidified my obsession: Bodie Thoene.
The Zion Chronicles series grabbed my attention like no series before. I was transported to post-WWII Israel during the era of Partition. I eagerly transitioned to the opening of WWII in Europe with Bodie Thoene's Zion Covenant series - one of the first series I stalked, eagerly anticipating the release of each subsequent book. My closest childhood friend would often check the newest book out of the church library on Sunday and immediately hand it to me. I would devour it within 24 hours and pass it back to her at school on Monday. I purchased the final two books in the series as a teenager, unwilling to wait on the library's waiting list and happy to reread them ad nauseam. I later introduced my husband to these books, reading them aloud to him in the car. We purchased both series and now our eldest son is hooked on them, as well.
In high school, my history teachers fanned the flames and my English Grammar and Literature teachers introduced me to Shakespeare and Dickens. While these authors didn't fascinate me enough to venture far beyond the required reading, they served the purpose of directing me toward my school librarian. God bless the school librarians who listen to their students' interests and push them toward classics! Although this particular librarian loved the Bronte sisters, they were a bit dark for my preference (with the shining exception of Jane Eyre, who became a favorite friend). Her subsequent recommendations, tailored more to my preferences, led me to Jane Austen and a lifelong love of all things Regency era.
So there you have it - many of the books that influenced who I am as a reader. Did you find any of your favorites among mine? If so, we may be 'kindred spirits,' as Anne would say. Hopefully we can introduce one another to some new literary friends!