For PaperBackSwap’s 8 year anniversary, we asked 8 members to tell us about 8 books that have mattered to them.
Today we feature Whitney (whitneyab)
Reading has been a life-long love of mine, and the day I found PaperBackSwap was a happy one indeed. Some of my happiest childhood memories revolve around people reading to me, as well as time spent in a library. To this day, my library card is one of my most prized possessions.
The earliest book I remember my mom reading to me is Are You My Mother? by PD Eastman. The joy of this book lasted for many years, because I have two younger sisters and eventually I read it to them.
Next came the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, which introduced me to the joy of reading book series. To this day I love the idea of favorite characters continuing on in subsequent books.
The Black Stallion by Walter Farley was another favorite. This book introduced me to the concept of reading and re-reading a favorite story. Interestingly enough, I still have that exact copy, and I gave it to my daughter, who also loved it.
This brings me to my next selection, which is a favorite because it introduced my baby to the love of reading: Pat The Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt. I started to read to her when she was about 6 months old, and she loved to hear that story over and over, touching every page.
The next book on my list is The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing by Marilyn Durham. This is the first book I ever read that wasn’t specifically written for children, and I read it on the recommendation of my father. Although I don’t remember much about the story other than the fact that the book had a sad ending, the reason it makes my list is that it helped me broaden my horizons as a reader, and to re-think the concept that every book had to have a happy ending in order to be a good story.
The very first romance book I ever read was Valley Of Paradise by Margaret Rome. Although not the best I’ve ever read, it was the book that introduced me to one of my favorite genres.
Along those same lines, The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton also makes my list for introducing me to science fiction/thrillers. To this day, Crichton is one of my favorite authors.
The final book on my list of top 8 is: the book I just read, whatever that book may be at any given time. Or maybe that should be: the book I’m about to read, whatever book that may be.
Valley Of Paradise? It’s like I don’t even know who you are anymore.
I used to save every penny of my babysitting money to buy the new Harlequins each month.
I like your list , Whitney. Of all members listed, mine would resemble yours the most. Cat In The Hat would get first, though! Thanks for sharing.
No, Whitney — >I< am your mother!
Thanks, Greg, now I’ll be having nightmares for weeks.
I *wish* I could remember the first Harlequin I ever read. I say that I never read romance until I was in my 40s but the summer before my 16th birthday, we drove from CA to CO. I got a horrible sunburn and somewhere along the way my mother bought me a Harlequin as I’d read everything else I had with me. I had to stay in our vehicle while the rest of my family was exploring.
I know her name was Eleanor and his was Kenneth. I believe they were on a cruise ship and I think she was hired by either his father or his uncle to act as secretary.
I didn’t care for it but now I’m nostalgic enough to wonder about it.