I want to start a somewhat different sort of conversation here: What made you into a book reader?

[murpheeslaw]

56. When I was little, my Dad read to us most evenings.

He would only read Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer or Treasure Island again and again. He was kind of a book snob or maybe he just liked to do the accents ; ) We would do puzzles or just sit and listen while he read; neighborhood kids would also partake if there was a sleep over. When he passed a couple of years ago several of my generation mentioned that at the memorial.

By third grade, on Saturdays, I was walking a mile by myself (HORRORS!) to the little library in the park to pick out my grocery bag of books for the week. Dating myself: Walter Farley - The Black and Flame books, the Boxcar Children, etc. When we moved to Texas (Middle school) I discovered the bus system, the Main Library downtown (whoopee! the New Books shelf by the checkout desk!!) and a round of used bookstores I would hit with babysitting money.

The SMELL of a library (wooden shelves and varnish, dust, paper, glue, plastic protective book covers) is incredibly soothing to me. If I could bottle it I would spray it on my pillow . . .

I think the love of books is genetic. One of my children reads as much as I do the other reads well but does not do it for pleasure as far as I can see (maybe just wants to be different).