Reading Memories

Outside, the night was dark, hiding the view of the mountains and pines stretching out beyond our living room window. Inside, the room was dimly lit, the only light coming from an oil lamp or two. The warm light flickered across our faces as we listened to my oldest sister read Where the Red Fern Grows aloud. 

Every evening we gathered to listen to her read, and we were nearing the end of the book. However, in the end it was my dad who had to finish reading it, since my sister was too overcome by her crying to read anymore. We all listened with both laughter and tears as the book was finished, and we still bring up that memory from time to time.  

I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been read aloud to so often in my life. There is something special about a communal reading experience, even if it’s just between two people. 

A few years after the experience of  Where the Red Fern Grows, another sister read me The Scarlet Pimpernel. The book was loaned to us by friends, and was making the rounds of my teenage sisters. 

I don’t remember why B started reading it aloud to me. I think maybe she just started one night on a whim, and then I wouldn’t let her stop. We shared a room at the time, and I would crawl up into her bunk  and listen for hours as she read. 

It’s not often you get to go into a book written in the 1900’s “Spoiler free,” but I didn’t know the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel until it was revealed in the book, and the mystery of it was delicious. B also didn’t know who it was—this secret was carefully guarded by everyone who read it and passed it on—and we got to squeal together when it was revealed. 

I think that was also my first time experiencing the reward of slowly getting into the language of a classic book, maybe being a little bored at first, or confused, and then suddenly having things snap into place and finding yourself getting fully invested. I still think that feels magical every time. 

Thirty-some years later, I think of Ira Sleeps Over because we got it on cassette tape from the library. For some reason, a whole group of both kids and grown up relatives listened to it together, and everyone ended up laughing uproariously with that sort of giddy, late night laughter that can happen over something that in retrospect isn’t actually that hilarious. It was always wonderful to me as a kid when the adults got as silly about something as we kids did. Sometimes my sisters and I still say “They’ll laaaaugh” in an obnoxious voice to each other because of that book. 

The Nate the Great books were also favorites of mine as a kid. I can’t remember if it was my mom or one of my sisters who used to read them to me, but they would read “He looked to the right, he looked to the left…” and dramatically crane their head from left to right every time, making me giggle like crazy. 

Incidentally, Nate the Great is also the first movie I ever remember seeing. This is going to make me sound ancient to any younger people reading this, (I swear I’m not that old, technology just moves really fast OKAY?) but we got the movie on a big reel from the library, along with a projector. Then we hung up a sheet and projected the picture onto it to watch the movie. So that’s the first way I ever remember seeing a movie, and that movie was a Nate the Great cartoon that we all gathered in my grandparents’ living room to watch. 

Because of Blueberries for Sal, I still dream about going to Maine someday, just like I think of the book Make Way for Ducklings when I see a mother duck leading her babies along. These memories are pressed into my brain like wildflowers in a book, and happening upon them always warms my heart. 

There are some things about growing up weird that I’m really grateful for, and these memories are in that category. I know it’s a different time, and the world has changed so much, but if you’ve got kids at home, even if they’re not little kids, maybe consider reading a book aloud together? Or hey, we live in the age of abundant audiobooks, you could pick one and listen to it together. You can listen with your partner or sibling or a friend too. It’s gonna make you smile. I’d bet on it. 

Books in this article:

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber

Nate the Great (series) by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Blueberries for Sal, and Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

I want to give an extra thank you to those of you who have chosen to support my writing financially. Because of you I’m working harder to make this something worth reading, and also working on my art to hopefully add a little more whimsy and joy to what I share. I know I’m new and just finding my way, so I’m very thankful that you’re willing to send a bit my way to encourage and support me on this adventure. It truly means the world to me <3