Weekly Geeks #3: Childhood Book Memories

The third Weekly Geek assignment is to list some fond childhood book memories. So last night as I was going to sleep I pondered this and came up with a bunch, so let's see if this morning I can remember them!

The one that always comes to mind first is The Little House series. I loved them! I think I was probably about 2nd or 3rd grade age when I devoured these books. I wanted to BE Laura! I find it weird that I can't get my own girls to read them.

I also loved The Boxcar Children. I would make my brothers go play "boxcar children" with me and we'd go out and pretend to be orphaned kids living in a boxcar. The idea sounded very romantic to me.

Around about fourth grade I really got into the Nancy Drew books. I still remember where they were located in our school library. Every week I'd go straight to that spot and see what new mystery I could check out.

My grandma had a set of the Chronicles of Narnia. I'd borrow them one or two at a time and take them home and get lost in them. I find it kinda cool that my memories of Narnia are mixed up with memories of my grandma.

Once when we went to a family reunion when I was about 12, we met a distant cousin who was a librarian. My dad told him, "This kid needs some book suggestions." I still remember that list he gave me... mostly current (at the time) Newbery winners. I went home and read them all. Julie of the Wolves, Island of the Blue Dolphins, From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.... to name a few.

I remember reading The Luckiest Girl by Beverly Cleary. It was my first exposure to a love story of sorts. And guess what? I really really liked it!

Then there was A Wrinkle in Time. Wow, I loved that one too.

When I got a little older, junior high age, I went crazy for the Anne of Green Gables books, Mary Stewart's Merlin/Aurthur books, and Phylis A. Whitney's romantic thrillers.

When I was in the 8th grade, I read Great Expectations and didn't understand a word of it. The whole book was a fuzz and a fog. I read it again a few years ago and LOVED it and now consider it one of my favorite books of all time. Funny how that happens, huh?

I could probably go on and on about book memories, but I'll let it go at that for now. Let me know if you post your memories and I'll come and compare!