I hate pie.
But I've always loved reading. A lot. Though, in elementary school, I also loved when the teacher directed me to books three grades above me to read (Look at me! I'm so smart). I loved being put in the "special" reading group with the smart kids. I loved reading Harry Potter and the Hobbit while others were still reading Junie B. Jones (been there, read that).
But, somehow my mom convinced me to read The Little House on the Prairie books with her.
(What? Only struggling kids read with their parents.)
And we read the entire series.
(What? These aren't the fad books. These aren't cool.)
And I loved every minute of it.
My mom and I laughed and cried. We reread favorite parts, and my mom explained the old-fashioned customs and tools, and told me about things she remembered from her childhood. I got to know her better because I wasn't being Miss Perfect Smarty Pants.
And guess what? That pie didn't taste so bad.
I love the voice that comes through in your writing. You're inviting and conversational without being overly casual. I appreciate how well you were able to make the connection between your independent streak and the bonding experience you had with your mother, that's such a personal and wonderful background to your career in reading.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Danielle's comment about your writing style. I, too, read the "Little House on the Prairie" books with my mom (and sister) as a young girl. My mom would read to us every night before we went to bed in the summertime, and those books--and characters--were some of our favorites.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of us find ourselves desiring to prove ourselves as you said. Recently, I have started a game called Trivia Crack (if youve never played, you answer trivia questions and play against friends) and I often think "I am an English Major at BYU, I AM ALL KNOWING" but then my 15 year old sister beats me or a relative who hasnt been in school for ten years and I have tasted that pie. Is intelligence more than just seeming or sounding intelligent? We all know that answer or else we wouldnt pay thousands to go to school but I think you make a good point that sometimes all we want to do is show off when sometimes the best lessons are learned from "Little House on the Prairie" or even picture books.
ReplyDeleteI love your title to this post. I thought it was clever but also very true. I judged this book by it's terrible writing too quick. I discredited the author and the content within. After reading your post I pondered back to the book and was able to see better content after I looked past the context in which it was written! Thanks for the post!
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