My 6th grade teacher Mr. M* was impressed with me. He told me so. I was his best student. My papers were full of thoughtful prose well beyond my years, my homework handed in on time and usually with extra answers. My reading requirements were completed within a week of the YEAR'S assignment. (The other kids groaned when I asked for more books to be added. I learned before the first test was given to shut my mouth.) What he was most impressed with was my vocabulary. I knew some big words for such a young age. What would have surprised the hell out of him was where I learned a majority of those words.
Romance novels. Yup. I was finishing about three to four romance novels a week.
I loved to read as a kid, a hobby you'd rarely fill in on your Slam Book questionnaire in the years before Harry Potter made it cool to read. (Please tell me your schools had Slam Books too. If it was just mine, then we would be able to trace all evil back to my classmates.) I was a reader all the way through the basic years, having moved on to chapter books well before third grade. I just loved getting lost in another realm, being a fly on the wall to someone else's adventure. Seeing as my mother usually had a book in her hand while the television was on, I could say I inherited it from her.
I started small, in juvenile serials. Babysitter's Club, Sweet Valley High, not really delving into the classics, but I read a few Nancy Drew books. Then it wasn't enough. I was breezing through a book within hours, wanting more. A trip to the bookstore would yield me three books plus an Archie comic and I would swallow them whole only to end up hungry for more the next day. I needed something to read, but my mother refused to buy me more. "Too expensive." (Please don't ask why we didn't consider the library at this time. I just don't remember. Michele, I'm sorry!)
My hands ached to break a spine. My mind thirsted for fresh words. But these were the days before the Internet as we now know it. No blogs to speak of. Where would I find my fix?
My mother's bookcase.
She had THOUSANDS of books saved, but they were mostly romance. My fifth grade brow crinkled as I considered this opportunity of venturing into a new realm of the written word, even if some of the words talked about freeing a member from it's denim clad prison. (I swear, I read it. I don't remember who wrote it. I just remember I laughed out loud in the middle of my Math class when I came upon that sentence, a class where I had finished my test and was allowed to sit and ready QUIETLY. That book was confiscated when the teacher realized what I was reading and then handed back at the end of the year with a note inside it saying I should try Danielle Steele if I really wanted a laugh.)
Once I crossed over that threshold, I had an endless supply of books at my disposal. Sure, the sex parts really did nothing for me. (Remember, I was eleven.) But the stories! Will he or won't he get the girl? Does she overcome the adversity to live her life the way she wants to? I devoured this feast of firsts quickly, secretly. My mother quickly found out I was going through her books, but what was she going to say? I was READING, something most kids had to be threatened to do back then.
I read the historical romances and quickly discovered that these "fluff novels" were very much based in reality. The authors did their research! While I learned about organza skirts and hand-spun silk and the richest colors imaginable, I also learned about law in the Elizabethan times and how children were raised. (Completely freaked out my professor a decade later in Juvenile Justice: A History when I was able to not only identify but place the root of some of today's laws. I completely got her on the word "bunting", which is the harsher predecessor to the very popular swaddling technique done on infants these days. She asked me how I knew an answer that had stumped every student in her long teaching history and the look on her face when I answered, "romance novels" was priceless.)
These days, my taste still runs toward the romance genre with a touch of suspense thrown in, Nora Roberts and such, but I've evolved to biographies (I finished The Thomas Edison bio about two years ago after reading it only during my pumping sessions. It took awhile.), suspense, fiction, and even a few Classics (Garp who?).
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to my favorite reading past-time of late, reading your blogs.
*I actually don't remember my 6th grade teacher's name. It may have started with a B. (This will drive me crazy for the remainder of the day.)
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I'm afraid to show John just how many books I've added to my wish list after reading these Spins!
Jim Styro and ME! over at He Read, She Read
Middle Aged Woman over at Unmitigated
Mama Badger over at Out of the Boondocks and Into the Burbs...
Nothing Fancy over at Nothing Fancy
Kendra over at Life in the Slow Lane
Wicked Step Mom over at Life and Times of a Wicked Step Mom
South Dakota Cowgirl over at Whoa My Horses!
Rachel over at The Ramblings of Rachel
Meli over at Randomosity-Mommy Style! -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Laufa over at Morgan Madness -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Erin over at It's Only A Movie -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Pseudo over at Pseudonymous High School Teacher -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Amy over at Paved With Good Intentions -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Maureen over at IslandRoar -Updated Sunday! Fresh Spin!
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Next week's Spin Cycle Assignment: Motto's.
"What's a motto?"
"Nothin'! What's a motto with you?"
(Sorry, Lion King is in our DVD player.)
What motto do you live by? Is there an inspirational saying that you keep coming back to? Does it describe your life as it is or the way you want it to be?
Have you ever seen someone adopt a motto and change their life based on a few words?
Tell us what your take is on it!
Remember to have it in by next Friday, August 28th! You know, cuz "there's no time like the present".
Some have asked how to jump aboard the Spin Cycle! It's easy! Just write your "spin" on whatever topic we're dissecting that week and make a post about it! Copy the link, paste it into my comments section and I'll link ya! It's as hard as you want it to be or as easy! (There may be a motto in that last sentence somewhere..)
I love it! We have the same taste in books! My mom used to take us to the library once a week - I'd check out at least 7 books each week and have them read by the following week. Sometimes sooner, so I started to up my 'book fix' and check out 14 books a week. There was some concern about that, but luckily no intervention transpired. I got my first introduction to the 'Romance Genre' with my first baby sitting gig at 12. I've been hooked on them ever since - and love the historical ones, people are taken aback at some of the knowledge gleaned from those! ;)
Posted by: Stacy (the Random Cool Chick)s | August 21, 2009 at 05:47 AM
I read all the time when I was younger. My mom would always ask me if I didn't want to go play outside and I always answered no, I'm happy reading. I would read all day long. I think I read the entire Nancy Drew series and my favorite books were the Roald Dahl books.
I wish I had as much time to read now as I did then.
Posted by: blueviolet | August 21, 2009 at 06:18 AM
You're somewhat younger than me - the Babysitter's Club and Sweet Valley High were after my time. Me? I *devoured* Barbara Cartland novels by the truckload (and yes, my knowledge of Victorian England is vast because of it). If you like historical romances - and not necessarily the "bodice-ripper" type - Anya Seton is also a damn good read. My senior year in high school, our English teacher gave us our choice of novels set in medieval England - when she asked if any of us had read any of them, I was the only student to raise my hand. When she asked me which I'd read, I said, "All of them."
I got to read my favorite, "Katherine", over again. Easy class.
Posted by: Jan | August 21, 2009 at 07:09 AM
Oh fellow readers! I LOVE to read although it has been a luxury I haven't been afforded as much as I would wish lately. But, I just recently started The Boleyn Inheritance and it is as good as The Other Boleyn Girl! And Rosamunde Pilcher - anything by her I adore.
You took me back when you mentioned Sweet Valley High - the twins! I think one was named Elizabeth or Liz but that is all I can remember. I loved those books and still do really enjoy the lighter side of reading. Thank you!
Posted by: Julie W | August 21, 2009 at 07:34 AM
I read all the teenage books, but if I was caught with a romance novel, I would have been grounded for weeks. I like the creative animals talking kind of books for some reason. Red Wall series. I don't think I would have read Twilight though, I would be afraid I would get into trouble with my parents. We went to the library once a week also. Now I'm there all the time...I've posted (sorry that it has been so long, I know you were bored).
Posted by: Laufa | August 21, 2009 at 07:42 AM
I read "Valley of the Dolls" getting it from my mother's stash, and some Sidney Sheldon. You're right; I didn't understand the sex but liked the stories.
Posted by: Maureen at IslandRoar | August 21, 2009 at 08:14 AM
i have two words for you.
Beverly Barton.
My new FAVORITE romance/mystery writer.
Posted by: vodkamom | August 21, 2009 at 08:20 AM
I started to leave a comment and decided to write a post about it instead! I'll be back in a bit with a link!
Posted by: Joanie M | August 21, 2009 at 08:41 AM
I was a voracious reader as a kid too, much for the same reasons you mentioned. But I am not sure my parents would have been as cool as yours to find me devouring books that had any sex at all in them. (Even if it wasn't graphic and used such descriptions as loins and bosoms and such. They were a little, shall we say, over-protective. Nonetheless I really identified with this post... reading as a child does shape your future!
Posted by: Robin | August 21, 2009 at 08:55 AM
My sister was just like you as a child. She couldn't get enough! I used to dress her up as a "book nerd" complete with high wasted khakis, suspenders, and reading glasses....then I took pictures.
But it did wonders for her vocabulary and writing skills!
Posted by: Nel | August 21, 2009 at 09:26 AM
I read Babysitter's Club and Sweet Valley High too and started young. Like you too I loved romance books at a young age. I read books that were "for my age" too fast and my grandmother started giving me her romance novels so "slow me down". However, I was not allowed to take them to school...but maybe a few snuck in...
Posted by: Triple H | August 21, 2009 at 09:44 AM
When I was young and was bad my mom would send me to my room...lol. Little did she know I had a lot of books in my room. So about an hour after she would send me to my room she would come in and find me reading. She said she would not do that again because I was having to much fun. And Jen I know you were reading my books. But taking them to school was a NO-NO!.
Posted by: Baba | August 21, 2009 at 10:33 AM
I read a Danielle Steele book once. Something to do with a woman who gets stuck in China during WWII. I was desperate for reading material.
Posted by: Captain Dumbass | August 21, 2009 at 10:52 AM
I was the kid the librarian wrinkled her nose at when I tried to check out adult books. One called my mom to ask her if she knew what I was reading. :-)
I am putting my spin up now...
http://dontworryitsonlyamovie.blogspot.com/2009/08/every-day-i-read-book.html
Posted by: Erin | August 21, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Oh crap! Mom, I think there's a statute of limitations on grounding me! I think I have the law on my side on this one.
Posted by: Sprite's Keeper | August 21, 2009 at 11:12 AM
REading was my escape as a kid. I started on Nancy Drew and the Bobbsey Twins at age 9(my mom had first editions of the Nancy drew books) but my love of reading came from having my mom read out loud to me when I was really little. I started on Romance novels(OK trashy romance) when I was about eleven. The library had a free trade section that was not monitored adn I could take what ever I wanted. Mom may not have been very approving of my choices but by the time I was 14 or so she was reading the silouette romance series books and sharing them with me. I sixth grade the English teacher commented to my mom that she had a hard time finding a book I hadn't read for class projects. Am still reading--so much that my husband sometimes gets a bit jealous of the books.
Posted by: Vandy | August 21, 2009 at 11:22 AM
I'll be back with my spin in a bit, but hey! I don't think anyone noticed...
Happy Birthday, Spin Cycle!
Our first assignment was issued a year ago tomorrow. Jen, your little baby is all grown up.
Posted by: Amy | August 21, 2009 at 02:19 PM
Okay, here's mine.
http://amyssmith.blogspot.com/2009/08/spin-cycle-truth-behind-teeth.html
Posted by: Amy | August 21, 2009 at 04:42 PM
Loved the romance novel part. I, too, read my moms books. Hers were a bit trashier than romance. I read Valley of the Dolls like Maureen.
The professor's face was so funny!
Posted by: Pseudo | August 21, 2009 at 09:15 PM
I was a huge book person. I got all my dating tips from Danielle Steele Yikes.
I dont' read nearly as much as I would like to b/c I'm just so tired at night and that is my favorite time to read
Posted by: Jessica | August 21, 2009 at 11:27 PM
This would explain the Nord posts. I wish I had gotten around to doing this Spin. What was it my dad said? Something about not reading or liking books is like not breathing or liking water.
I hope to raise readers.
Posted by: Arwen | August 22, 2009 at 07:15 AM
I started with SVH crack too but I moved on to my big brother's Stephen King books. I guess you went the way of romance and me, destruction, death and paranormal. No wonder I'm so weird and you're so nice.
Posted by: Casey | August 22, 2009 at 11:31 AM
As a very sheltered child I didn't discover romance novels until college. But I think I've more than made up for it!
Posted by: Rachel | August 22, 2009 at 02:55 PM
It's a little late, but I'm back!
http://maureenlynn.wordpress.com/2009/08/22/spin-cycle-a-revelation/
Posted by: Maureen | August 22, 2009 at 07:46 PM
Hilarious! Who knew? On the way down BlogHer, I picked up a book at the "leave one take one" bookshelf at the local train station. The book, an old romance novel (possibly one from your mom's bookshelf) was "The Legendary Lover." It was pretty funny in an eye-rolling way, but didn't get past the first five pages.
Posted by: kim/hormone-colored days | August 24, 2009 at 07:41 AM