Sunday, May 09, 2010

My Mother Also Read a Book a Week

The question keeps popping up: How do you read a book a week? I've answered it before (I don't watch TV, I don't play golf, etc.) but I've thought of another factor and thought I'd write about it today, on Mother's Day. The other factor is just habit and example. My mother read a book a week. Trips to the library were built into our weekly routine, like trips to the grocery store. Her mother read a book a week, and my other grandmother read a book a week too. Her daughters, my aunts, do too. My stepmother and sister read that much as well. It's just something that mothers and daughters do in our family. I know my friend Anne and her sister Julia read a book a week also, a habit they got from their mother. In these families books are like food. You wouldn't let the cupboard get empty and you wouldn't be without a book (and a backup book) either.

I am thankful that my mother set this example, though I'm sure she didn't think of it that way. On this Mother's Day I want to remember all the departed mothers in my life: my mother Patricia, her mother Marie, and my father's mother Virginia, great readers all.

12 comments:

Melissa said...

A lovely tribute!

Sarah Laurence said...

Happy Mother's Day! What a beautiful tribute to your mother.

My mother read at least a book a week too and still does. Growing up, my brother and I had a monthly book allowance, a tradition I have continued with my kids. I also spent a lot of time in the library and had a 1 hour per week cap on TV. I still don't watch TV other than the Daily Show so that I can read every night.

I love finding these parallel stories in cyber space. Reading is the best habit of all.

Carin Siegfried said...

Hi, I gave you an award! http://carolinebookbinder.blogspot.com/2010/05/awards-lovely-acknowledgement.html

Esther said...

How wonderful. My mother was a great reader too. I'm sure that's where I picked up the habit!

Claire said...

Good point! Everyone in my family is a big reader too. It's a great habit to pass on.

Booksnyc said...

What a wonderful tribute! I now share of love of reading with my Mom and it is something that has drawn us closer to together.

GaryPaulson said...

I don't remember my mom being much of a reader and the first book I remember reading was for a high school class reading assignment.

Great thing is you can now start your own family tradition!

LINDA from Each Little World said...

What a nice change from typical Mother's Day stories. I read somewhere that reading is that legal addictive pleasure. I can't imagine a life without books — or European magazines!

Anne said...

Julia and I DO read a book a week (at least) - we didn't actually get the habit from my mother, who reads a lot now but didn't when we were children. My father read all the time and read aloud to us until Julia, the youngest, went away to boarding school at age 15. My maternal grandmother also read constantly, sometimes taking to her bed for several days and just reading. A woman after my own heart, or perhaps I am after hers!

Marla Martenson said...

I also read a book per week. I am always surprised when I meet someone who doesn't read. Books are my passion!!!

Julia said...

My sweet daughters, who I think you met when last you were in Portland, are vociferous readers as well. No matter how late it is when they make it to bed, they are awarded at least 5 minutes reading time to round out the day.

Wolfhound said...

Glad to see that there are other folks that read frequently. so many of us claim that we don't have time for those things we want to do - and yet most people seem to have time for watching TV... I have dumped my TVs and have undertaken to start reading at least a book a week. I'm keeping track here : http://alabaw.blogspot.com/

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