For through their reading in those most formative years from seven to seventeen they have become all unconsciously the dwellers in many lands, the intelligent and eager associates of all manner of people. Through their early familiarity with words they have gained a facility in speech and in writing which no other source can give. They will never be bored, for they can always seek out a world perhaps at the moment more desirable than the one in which they live and companions often more real than those close at hand. The value of the experiences which they themselves will meet in life can be increased by their knowledge of similar experiences in the realm of books; and the sorrow which they must weather can be made more bearable by the lines of poetry forever in their minds.
Isn’t that wonderful? The author is speaking of the young but I think it holds true for readers of all ages. The author is Mary Ellen Chase and the tiny book, which it really an essay is Recipe for a Magic Childhood. Of course a big part of that magic childhood involves books!
I owe Danielle a thanks for first writing about this little gem.
Now that I am done with school and beginning to recover a sense of free time, I had a recollection that there is usually a 24-hour read-a-thon in October. I participated in the inaugural event, I was in my first quarter of library school and had to read a banned book for class. I read Lord of the Flies. Even blogless Bookman participated by reading Saturday by Ian McEwan. So I looked it up, and lo and behold, the read-a-thon is scheduled for October 22nd. I immediately signed up. Bookman says he will participate too. He doesn’t blog, but I am going to try and get him to tweet and I hope to tweet a bit too, especially if I decide to read a book on my Kindle. Still have time, but I can’t help thinking about what I might want to read. I am also considering signing up as a cheerleader, at least for an hour. It might make a nice break from reading. Still have time to decide on that too. Anyone else planning on participating as reader or cheerleader?
Speaking of Kindle. My library now has Kindle e-book lending! I browsed a bit and of course the books I wanted to read are all checked out. I’ll have to do more browsing and maybe resort to borrowing something I don’t want to read just to see how the process works.
My RIP Challenge reading has temporarily come to a halt because I had to read The Golden Mean for the Slaves discussion at the end of the week and I am trying to squeeze in Memoirs of Hadrian by Maguerite Yourcenar which the Wolves will be discussing very shortly. I finished the former but have not made it far into the latter but will keep reading nonetheless since the book has been on my TBR pile for ages.
I brought home a really interesting looking book from the library the other day, Reading is My Window: Books and the Art of Reading in Women’s Prisons by Megan Sweeney. I found out about it from Eva at a Striped Armchair. I have no time to read it right now but I couldn’t resist borrowing it anyway.
And I have just run out of steam. Chatting in everyday life tends to wear me out and chatting in writing zaps me faster than more directed writing does. Does that happen to anyone else?
Until tomorrow.
That is a wonderful quote. Thanks for sharing it!
Oh boy, I’m not going to make the Slaves this weekend – I’d forgotten all about it. I’m also trying to get through the Yourcenar (in French! It’s very sonorous and grand and sends me to sleep every time – but I am enjoying it) and I’m reading When God Was A Rabbit with Jodie for this weekend, and then, I promised one of the people I work with at the store that I’d come along to her book group. And that turns out to be TONIGHT! So I am reading The Conjuror’s Bird as fast as I can….. There are just some weeks, you know? If there’d been a 24 hour readathon midweek, I could have signed up for it and used it!
Jennie, glad you liked the quote!
Litlove, heh, sounds like you have quite a few books on your plate! So many good books to read and not enough time to read them in. We really need to find a benefactor who will pay us just to sit and read all day without deadlines or other obligations. Wouldn’t that be the life?
I love it when book bloggers I follow participate in Read-a-thon. I love reading about their day.
And I’m with you… blogging really does tire one out.
I saw and was interested in Danielle’s post about Recipe for a Magic Childhood–thanks for reminding me!
Reading Is My Window sounds like an interesting perspective on reading. Adding it to my list.
Isn’t it a sweet little book? I’m glad you found it. I’ve not made much progress in the Slaves book and will be tardy once again I’m afraid. I’ve just been wrapped up in other books that I haven’t wanted to set down. I get too easily distracted lately. I’m glad I’m not the only one who checks out library books even though I know I have too many books already started. I can’t help myself, and you really never do know what you might manage to squeeze in!
Meghan, will you be reading in the read-a-thon? 24 hours of reading is more than I can go. I am considering including a break for brain and tired eyes to watch a movie based on a book and thinking about snacks, because snacks are very important!
Jenclair, glad to remind you about the Chase book. I thought Reading is My Window sounded really interesting too. I’m hoping to be able to read it before it has to go back to the library.
Danielle, yes, a very sweet little book, thanks for writing so well about it and brining to my attention! I fmanaged to finish the Slaves book but it looks like you are not alone in your tardiness. I know what you mean about being wrapped up in other books. It’s a wonderful thing but it also makes breaking away to join in other reads very hard.
I do plan on participating. I’ve been planning my reading and snacks since the last read-a-thon. I’m even dragging The Boyfriend and best friend into with me. They may be in it mainly for the food, but they’ll be reading as well.
I’ve never made it the full 24-hours, but I hope to do at least 20 this year. I also will be taking a week reading break. I’m a huge ND football fan, and we play USC at 8pm. I’ll be reading in between plays, but I know my page count will be greatly diminished during the game.
Also, I adore this quote so much.
I find that chatting in real life exhausts me but I’m capable of chatting on the computer for a long time, probably because I can do other things while waiting for a person’s response.
I am tempted by the readathon but probably will skip, although it sounds fun.
Would love to do the 24-hour readathon, but unfortunately (or fortunately really) I’ll be down at our coast attending a Jazz Festival. Will think of you!
Meghan, awesome! I like that you are dragging in your boyfriend and best friend. The more the merrier, right? I also approve of the high importance you are placing on snacks. Reading is hard work and teh importance of snacks should not be downplayed. I know I won’t make it for 24 hours. Noon GMT is 5 a.m. where I am and even though I am a morning person, I will not be up reading by 5 and even fueled by lots of coffee I will be lucky to make it past 10 p.m.
Daphne, isn’t it a great quote? And there are others in the book equally as good. Think about joining in on the readathon, it will be lots of fun!
Whisperinggums, Jazz Festival takes precedence. Though if you were really hardcore you’d figure out a way to incorporate reading during the festival, perhaps some Ginzburg or other jazz inspired writers?
LOL Stefanie, that’s putting me on the spot … I’m not sure I’m hardcore then! But you never know, I might be next year!
Heh, I imagine trying to read at the jazz festival would be a huge sensory overload. But maybe next year if the festival and the reading don’t coincide
I got lucky. My start time is 8am. As long as I get to bed relatively early, I’ll be good to go. I can’t to see your blog posts from that day. Happy Reading!
I don’t think I’d do well with a 24-hour readathon; I can’t sit still for that long! Plus the readathons always occur in the middle of the semester, and I’m generally too busy then to go a whole day without doing some school work or some other chore. But that’s okay. I also find chatty posts can be more difficult than I expect. Often it’s because I end up adding a lot of links, and that’s time-consuming, and also because it can be hard to get the chatty tone right. Sounding casual can take a lot of work!
Meghan, oh lucky you! I’ll have to compensate for such an early start time by trying to stay up later but I’m usually in bed by 9:30 so that doesn’t bode well! Happy Reading!
Rebecca, I can’t sit still for that long either. There will be lots of breaks to rest the eyes and clear the head. Too bad you will be in the middle of the semester. and I am glad I am not the only one for which chatty is a lot of work!