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Bookworm
Bookworm: A Memoir of Childhood Reading | Lucy Mangan
216 posts | 51 read | 177 to read
When Lucy Mangan was little, stories were everything. They opened up new worlds and cast light on all the complexities she encountered in this one. She was whisked away to Narnia and Kirrin Island and Wonderland. She ventured down rabbit holes and womble burrows into midnight gardens and chocolate factories. She wandered the countryside with Milly-Molly-Mandy, and played by the tracks with the Railway Children. With Charlottes Web she discovered Death and with Judy Blume it was Boys. No wonder she only left the house for her weekly trip to the library or to spend her pocket money on amassing her own at home. In Bookworm, Lucy revisits her childhood reading with wit, love and gratitude. She relives our best-beloved books, their extraordinary creators, and looks at the thousand subtle ways they shape our lives. She also disinters a few forgotten treasures to inspire the next generation of bookworms and set them on their way. Lucy brings the favourite characters of our collective childhoods back to life prompting endless re-readings, rediscoveries, and, inevitably, fierce debate and brilliantly uses them to tell her own story, that of a born, and unrepentant, bookworm.
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Lizpixie
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#OminousOctober #Day1 #Cat This is the first book I found with a cat on the cover, and it‘s a black cat too! Perfect for #Scarathlon🐈‍⬛ #TeamSlaughter 6pts

Eggs Brilliant 🐈‍⬛🧡🖤 2y
Clwojick Perfect! 🖤 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome cover 🧡🖤 2y
47 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Lizpixie
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Hey everyone👋Dental surgery really sucks.Haven‘t really felt like socializing at all so need to catch up on a few questions. Bear with me!

🤓I read to escape. I read to travel the world. I read to distract myself. I read to live.
👵🏻My dad but it was my Auntie Lilla who encouraged my reading & kept me supplied with books as a child.
⏰Anytime.A lot is done early hours of the morning due to insomnia though.

#LittensWantToKnow

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I hope you‘re feeling better!! 2y
26 likes1 comment
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Lizpixie
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#AlphabetGame #letterB

I absolutely adored this NF about the authors bibliophile childhood. It brought back so many beautiful memories of spending days at the local library with my dad & sneaking away to read books in the paperbark tree in our backyard.

If you‘re not tagged yet, feel free to join in!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing!! 2y
37 likes1 comment
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Crinoline_Laphroaig
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Mehso-so

I was expecting to love this book about books. Maybe it's because the author is British and a lot of the books she talked about I have never read??? I did really like her thoughts about Little Women.

My favorite part was this quote at the end. Could be used to answer anyone who doesn't understand the bookworm in their life. "Leave us be. We're fine. More than fine. Readings are thing."

That's 2 Books of of #2022mounttbr.

Ruthiella I liked this more than you, but also didn‘t know of a few of the books she referenced because I am American and also a bit older than Mangan. Also, I wasn‘t that much of a bookworm. I played outside as a child! 3y
46 likes1 comment
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Blueberry
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😃😆 #1,7,8,9

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Still trying to drill the 3rd one into my family‘s heads after all these years… 3y
Tamra 😆 3y
53 likes2 comments
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squirrelbrain
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Wonderful article from today‘s Guardian….

Loved the whole section about how she shelves her books; a girl after my own heart! ❤️

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/nov/06/lucy-mangan-creating-my-lib...

BarbaraBB That library looks heavenly! 3y
PurpleyPumpkin Great article. Thanks for sharing! 3y
marleed So cool! I have a spare bedroom turned library - I can only dream of an out building! I love her arrangement. I mix my books up all the time and deliberately don‘t shelf them as they would be found at a Barnes & Noble! 3y
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Oryx Great article. Looks like the library of dreams. 3y
JamieArc What a delightful article! My spouse and I are house searching, and I would be lying if I said I wasn‘t hoping every time we walked into a house that I was searching for the perfect library room. 3y
Magpiegem This was my dream once, I had every book I had ever owned and very much used them as my memories as my brain does a pretty rubbish job of that. Then I met my husband... who did not share my passion, then I had three little boys... who take up so much room (and book shelf space) and now I only have one little bookshelf with books I haven‘t read yet and my very favourite ones I have. Everything else gets given away. 😞 3y
Cathythoughts How lovely 💫 📚 3y
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TheKidUpstairs
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I've definitely said #2 many many times!

wanderinglynn 😆😆😆 3y
Suet624 Same here. 3y
HotMessJess Only twelve recs? I‘m usually like “WHAT GENRE ARE YOU VIBIN IN RIGHT NOW?!” - then of course I rec no fewer than‘# 30 books from 16 different genres and sun genres 3y
Hooked_on_books Yes, totally #2! 😂 And I don‘t even bother with book buying bans. Why set myself up for failure? 3y
Fang88 Yup I know most of those very well! 3y
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TheEllieMo
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 139
#BooksToRead #TBRPile #TBRMountain

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Do pretty 💛💛 4y
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thebookmagpie
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Not posted here in a while! I‘ve just had to buy two bookcases to deal with this (I already have six...) - anyone else‘s collection out of control?! 😅

Prairiegirl_reading Definitely 4y
Megabooks 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️ 4y
Leftcoastzen Everybody‘s! 👏😂I think most Littens buy another bookcase when they get that floor situation. 4y
18 likes3 comments
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Ruthiella
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Two new books for my books about books collection. 😀

BiblioLitten Nice! I love both the covers😍 4y
Ruthiella @BiblioLitten I love the covers too! 😀 4y
LeahBergen Bookworm is good! 👍🏻 4y
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Ruthiella @LeahBergen I know I will enjoy it! 😀 4y
rubyslippersreads Gorgeous! 😍 4y
Ruthiella @rubyslippersreads Thanks! ☺️ 4y
Reviewsbylola Both beautiful. 😍 4y
Ruthiella @Reviewsbylola Thanks! 😊 4y
Centique I‘m so looking forward to reading these - might have to jump them up the list! 4y
Ruthiella @Centique I have so many books like this yet unread! They often lead to an unreasonable urge to READ ALL THE BOOKS! 😂 4y
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squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

Who wouldn‘t love a book about books?! The author talks us through her childhood books, only a few of which I hadn‘t read.

I loved the part where she rated the ‘What Katy Did‘ books in gold, silver, bronze order, exactly the same as I did as a child! Pictured is my shelf of childhood books that I still own - I only wish I had kept many more of them.

Thanks for gifting this to me Emma! @Oryx 😘

TrishB Lovely ❤️ 4y
Oryx Glad you liked it. I really enjoyed begin reminded of all those childhood books. I don't think I have my Katy books anymore 😭 4y
Oryx I spy a chalet school there. 🧐 4y
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squirrelbrain Yes @oryx - all the Chalet Schools are hiding behind Bookworm! I don‘t have What Katy Did at School any more. That was my out-and-out fave of the 3 but was a different edition. I‘ll have to keep an eye out for a second-hand copy.... 4y
LeahBergen @Oryx I was just going to say I spot a Chalet School book there. 😆 4y
Itchyfeetreader Loves this book 4y
squirrelbrain @LeahBergen - there‘s another 7 or 8 hiding behind Bookworm. I really ought to read them again - see how they stand up all these years later! 😁 4y
LeahBergen I‘ve been reading one in order from the series every so often. I think I‘m up to book 6? 🤔 4y
squirrelbrain I don‘t think I even read them in order as a child @LeahBergen - my copies were nearly all pre-loved so I just read them as I got them. I might look up a list and see which ones I‘ve got.... 4y
LeahBergen I never did either! I only read a few random ones that I could find back then. It‘s been fun starting from the beginning (and hunting down old copies ❤️). 4y
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Vansa
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#ThankfulThursday @Cosmos_Moon
I absolutely loved this memoir about Lucy Mangan's childhood reading, huge overlaps with mine!
Not an American! I always vote though, it's the bare minimum I can do as a citizen.
I'm thankful that my house hasn't been conquered by fungus!

Cosmos_Moon_River Yay for voting wherever we are! It is the backbone of democracy. Are you battling fungus? Good luck and thanks for joining in this week! 4y
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Vansa
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Vansa
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I remember this scene SO WELL from Beverly Cleary's book!!

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squirrelbrain
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Thanks so much for Bookworm Emma @Oryx - you won‘t believe how many times I‘ve *nearly* bought this but haven‘t - I can‘t wait to read it!

@TrishB - both these books sound wonderful. In fact, I think I pointed The Memory Police out to Emma as one I wanted to read when we went shopping on Thursday. The Suspect sounds like fascinating NF - just my kind of thing!

Birdsong28 You bought me that book last year how funny that you get it bought for you! 📚 📖 4y
TrishB I just keep my fingers crossed that you haven‘t got them! You got some great gifts 👍🏻🎁 4y
Oryx You're very welcome! I think you'll enjoy it - I loved it 4y
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squirrelbrain I know @Birdsong28 - I really wanted to buy it for myself back then, but didn‘t! 4y
squirrelbrain I try to keep my TBR up to date as much as I can @TrishB ! 4y
Kalalalatja Happy happy birthday! 🎉🎉🎉 4y
squirrelbrain Thank you @Kalalalatja 😘 4y
84 likes7 comments
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violabrain
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Mehso-so

Even though there were some beautiful passages in this book and I was absolutely a bookworm as a child (and still very much am!), this book was disappointing. A lot of the books she loved I hated (Sweet Valley High?! Are you serious!?) and vice versa (how is Anne of Green Gables not one of your favorite books of all time?). Also, I found her writing to be awkward and clunky at times. Oh well!

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megnews
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Any last thoughts?
#OverBookedClub

sblbooks Thanks, this was a fun month! 4y
Chrissyreadit I have to admit, I did not read past the first chapter. But I own it so I will probably go back to it. I do enjoy all the diverse reading experiences we have. 4y
megnews @sblbooks I enjoyed it too. Just finished chapter one of I Was Anastasia. I like the writing so far. Think it‘s going to be good. I‘ve had it on my tbr forever 4y
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megnews @Chrissyreadit yeah, as I did the questions I thought people could join in even if they hadn‘t read the book because they really touch on reading experiences and I‘ve enjoyed hearing everyone‘s too. (edited) 4y
Roary47 Like you said @megnews I enjoyed the opportunity to read everyone‘s thoughts and experiences. It‘s amazing how many different depths reading while growing up can shape us. 4y
megnews @Roary47 I agree. 4y
Butterfinger Thank you for the discussion questions. 4y
erzascarletbookgasm Thank you for hosting, great discussion questions, @megnews . Sorry I came to the discussions late, partly due to the time differences; I‘ve enjoyed reading every one‘s comments, and the book! 4y
megnews @erzascarletbookgasm it‘s no problem. I always come back to comment. 4y
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megnews
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sblbooks I would like to hear about the childhood favorites of Kristin Hannah or LM Montgomery. 4y
megnews @BookishMe @sblbooks I‘d like to here about Toni Morrison‘s 4y
Butterfinger The Obamas 4y
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erzascarletbookgasm Neil Gaiman? 4y
megnews @Butterfinger the Obamas would be good. 4y
megnews @erzascarletbookgasm I‘ve never read anything by him. Where would you suggest someone start? 4y
erzascarletbookgasm @megnews I‘ve not read all of Gaiman‘s books, but if you like faerie tale-Stardust; with a bit of magical realism-The Ocean At The End of the Lane; something creepy-Coraline(there‘s a movie too); some dark adventures-The Graveyard Book. Hope you‘ll get to read him someday, he‘s a master storyteller. 4y
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megnews
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BookishMe I enjoyed checking out the writers, new to me, and classics from 4y
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megnews @bookishme I liked My Life with Bob, The Reading Promise, Dear Fahrenheit 451, Morningstar: Growing up with Books, and WellRead Black Girl. 4y
megnews @Bookishme I enjoyed I‘d Rather Be Reading too (edited) 4y
BookishMe Oh yes! Dear Fahrenheit was entertaining ;D taking note of the other titles 4y
Butterfinger Dear Fahrenheit definitely would recommend. 4y
kspenmoll @BookishMe I enjoyed Howards End as well. 4y
erzascarletbookgasm This was my first. I have a few on my wish list to read. Thanks for some of the suggestions above! 4y
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megnews
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sblbooks I added The Borrowers and Tom's midnight Garden. 4y
megnews @sblbooks I added several but The Phantom Tollbooth is high up the list. 4y
Butterfinger Tom's Midnight Garden. @sblbooks I hope you enjoy the Borrowers as much as I have. 4y
erzascarletbookgasm Phantom Tollbooth, Tom‘s Midnight Garden, The Family From One End Street. 4y
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megnews
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BookishMe I have yet to get hold of the book (not for another month ;o) but this is a chapter that's likely to see nod or shake my head empathetically! 4y
megnews @bookishme maybe I am not aware enough to know when a books been changed. The only one I can think of is Are You There God It‘s Me Margaret where they change sanitary napkins with belts to pads. Girls today wouldn‘t understand and it might take away from the story. That update might be justified. 4y
Butterfinger As much as I love Little House - I would have to address the racism. My grandfather was a full blooded Tuscarora and it really bothered me when Caroline or somebody said - the only good Indian is a dead Indian. I was so proud of my Pawpaw and he acted ashamed of it. And, then I read that. I'm talking a lot about Little House. I read a lot more. LOL. 4y
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megnews @Butterfinger I don‘t remember that. I guess I would leave it because I think it‘s important to show children how things were. But I would do some type of foreword and afterward to address it. 4y
kspenmoll I think it is important to put books in the context of the time, place, social & political mores , while at the same time discussing how we might think differently now. Prior to reading of course. I always wanted to learn about the author, etc. even when I was young. 4y
erzascarletbookgasm I am not in favour of the new versions of EB. If we let today‘s kids read the original versions, we should discuss/inform them that those books are products of their time. Editing them will lose its nuance and essence. If adults are concerned about the racist, sexists, and xenophobic remarks, I‘d suggest don‘t introduce her books. They‘re many more exciting ‘modern‘ books out there. My two cents. 4y
megnews @kspenmoll @erzascarletbookgasm I kind of agree with both of you. I remember teachers bringing that up before reading books like Tom Sawyer. I thought it was important to show how it was. Hopefully we‘re changing. 4y
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megnews
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SaturnDoo Charlotte's Web 4y
sblbooks Old Yeller 4y
megnews @saturndoo @sblbooks I think for me it was Bridge to Terebithia. 4y
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sblbooks @megnews I read that as an adult. Yes, I cried.😭 4y
Roary47 Island of blue dolphins. I didn‘t read it as a child, but watched the movie adaptation which I knew came from the book. 4y
Butterfinger So many, but I think it was when Mary lost her sight and she had to leave to go to a special school. But I also remember the episode when she Laura almost burned down the house because Mary needed light to read. 4y
erzascarletbookgasm I‘m embarrassed to say I don‘t think I‘ve read any that broke my heart when I was a kid. As I‘m from a family of non-readers, I didn‘t have anyone to recommend or guide me in what books to read. Neither did the teachers (different era then). I guess I stumbled on my own and read whatever that interested me then- and they were mainly mystery books! Only as an adult I read heartbreaking books. 4y
megnews @erzascarletbookgasm what is an adult book that broke your heart? 4y
erzascarletbookgasm @megnews They‘re quite a few that I loved and broke my heart. Lately it‘s John Boyne‘s books - The Absolutist; and this tagged book 4y
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megnews
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rubyslippersreads I‘m behind on this and also have my virtual YA Book Club today, but will catch up soon. 😊 4y
sblbooks Mostly fond memories, even though I didn't like to read as a child. ( social anxiety) 4y
megnews @rubyslippersreads come back when you‘re done! I‘ll check out your answers. 4y
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megnews @sblbooks for me the feeling the quote @butterfinger shared about effortless immersion really brought back my feelings of when reading as a child. 4y
Roary47 I was bullied a lot when I was young. Remembering what books did for me in getting though those times like my mind being in another world. Those were the best books and I cannot thank those authors enough or my school librarian who always gave me recommendations knowing my circumstances. 4y
Butterfinger Yes @megnews I could get lost in a book anywhere - on a loud bus, during a basketball game, but now - too many responsibilities hold me ransom. 4y
megnews @Roary47 I‘m sorry to hear that but I‘m so glad for you that you found an outlet in reading. 4y
megnews @Butterfinger yes I remember the days my parents would tell me they‘d called me five times and I never heard them. 4y
Littlewolf1 I don‘t know, I really couldn‘t get into this book and maybe it‘s because I could not relate. I have a learning disability that was overlooked until I was pretty much an adult so reading as a child was a struggle. I do remember the desire to read though, because I spent a lot of time in library. 4y
erzascarletbookgasm Definitely nostalgia when it comes to some of the books that I‘ve read. Also, Lucy and I have dads who encouraged our reading habits. 4y
megnews @erzascarletbookgasm 👍🏻👍🏻 4y
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megnews
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sblbooks I remember reading in the old clawfoot tub, they decorated in my first grade class. 4y
BookishMe Searching for Noddy books in the school library 4y
megnews @sblbooks @BookishMe I have a lot but the strongest one is standing in the corner of our public library where all my favorite books were as a first grader. I always took out Little Bear. They‘re building a new one and that won‘t be there anymore. A little sad. 4y
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Roary47 I would say I have a lot too, but I lived really far away from my school (my dad was a teacher there) and I read all sorts of books on the commute like the serendipity books, sweet valley girls, my into the land of unicorns books. 4y
Butterfinger @Roary47 I have forgotten about the Serendipity books. A favorite memory would be hiding my books so I would have one while I was supposed to be cleaning my room. 4y
megnews @Roary47 sweet valley! Loved ‘em! (edited) 4y
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megnews
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sblbooks My mom and I pass books back and forth. 4y
megnews @sblbooks again, my Gran. I wish I had someone to pass books back and forth with but my mom likes different genres than me. I do share book recommendations back and forth with 3 or 4 friends. 4y
BookishMe I only learnt to read after 8yo... To get me started on reading, my elder sister took me to the used bookstores to pick piles of Enid Blyton books for me 4y
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sblbooks @megnews My mom and I have similar taste, but she does not like duel timelines. Several of my favorite books are dual timelines. 4y
megnews @sblbooks my mom is more of a mystery fan and we shared books when I was into those. I LOVE dual timelines!!! 4y
Roary47 I was behind in my reading skills as a child. My teacher suggested I read out loud to my parents. So they let me pick out the books and I read to them at night. They would correct me if needed and I would have to repeat. I remember reading them secret garden and Nancy Drew. 4y
Butterfinger Again, my Nanny. So many nights I would be scooched up to her reading from the Bible and playing Bible Trivia. 4y
megnews @Roary47 and here you are today an avid reader! I loved Nancy Drew! And Trixie Belden. 4y
megnews @butterfinger I was reading the Bible through with one Grandma when she died when I was 10. I was reading the Bible through in 90 days when my other Gran died when I was much older. I always thought that was weird. I pressed on and that‘s the only time I‘ve read it cover to cover. 4y
Butterfinger @Wow!! I'm glad you kept going. 4y
Littlewolf1 My mom, my aunt and my third grade teacher are people who used to read to me when I was younger. But the times that my grandfather would be to me and were the best. 4y
erzascarletbookgasm My sister was never a bookworm. Maybe an occasional reader. I was the only reader in the family. Now I share some of the middle grade books with my daughter. ❤️ 4y
megnews @Littlewolf1 you had a whole tribe of readers! 4y
megnews @erzascarletbookgasm I can relate to your comment. In my immediate family I was the only reader. My mom is a reader but she was too busy when I was growing up. I only started seeing her read when I got older. 4y
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megnews
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sblbooks My grandmother. Although when I was a child, I didn't like it. She was the one that taught me to read. 4y
megnews @sblbooks for me it was my Gran too! We drove from Ohio to North and South Carolina and Virginia every year to see her mom & siblings and I read to her the whole way there. I remember reading Jane Eyre and Eight Cousins to her. As I got older we shared book recommendations back and forth. It was hard for me to read for about a year after she died because I wanted to talk to her about the books. 4y
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BookishMe Posted at the wrong qn ;p 4y
Roary47 My sister in law used to work at the library (she‘s 14 years older than me). She would take me on story time. My mom and grandma also bought me books and took me to the library for summer reading programs. My dad introduced me to classics and Newberry award winners. So basically everyone. 😍 4y
Roary47 @megnews that is a tough transition. I have trouble going to car shows after my dad passed so I can understand. 4y
Butterfinger My grandmother too. She passed away this past Thanksgiving, but I am finding comfort in reading her favorites. Grief is different for everyone, but I am drawn to Montgomery, Alcott, and Wilder right now. 4y
megnews @Roary47 that‘s awesome! 4y
megnews @Roary47 sorry to hear that! 4y
megnews @butterfinger sounds like a lot of our reading was impacted by grandmothers. I love Montgomery and Wilder. (edited) 4y
Littlewolf1 Actually, I was not a reader as a child. I did not mind people reading to me, but I struggled because I was dyslexic. It was not until later when I was diagnosed with dyslexia and learn how to read for me that I was really able to start reading, and when I could, I did not want to stop. 4y
erzascarletbookgasm Aww, so wonderful to have your grandmas who fostered your love for reading. For me, it‘s my dad. He‘s not a reader (neither is my mom) but he always brought me to the bookstores and encouraged me to use my school library. 4y
megnews @Littlewolf1 glad you pushed through and became a reader! 4y
megnews @erzascarletbookgasm I do see parents that don‘t read make the library a priority for their kids and I always like to see that. 4y
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megnews
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sblbooks I had a strawberry shortcake book, that I wanted read over and over again, when I had surgery at the age of seven. 4y
megnews @sblbooks. I loved strawberry shortcake! But I don‘t remember having any of her books. I reread the Little House series and Anne of Green Gables series quite a lot. (edited) 4y
Roary47 I had a lot of the little golden books and I would read them over and over. I also had Barbie comic books that I really enjoyed. 4y
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Butterfinger Puff the Magic Dragon. This book went everywhere with me. I went to Girl Scouts camp with it when I was 7-8. 4y
Butterfinger And when it was republished a few years ago as a picture book, I did get it for my daughters. They each have their own copy. 4y
megnews @Roary47 I had lots of little golden books too. Loved ‘em! 4y
megnews @butterfinger I never realized Puff the Magic Dragon was a book! Loved that movie! 4y
Butterfinger @megnews I think the old copy I had in the 80s was a novelization of the old movie. The new picture book is just the Peter, Paul, and Mary lyrics. 4y
Littlewolf1 I used to love the Worst Witch books. I would make my my read them all the time. 4y
erzascarletbookgasm Probably the Ladybird books, the ones on fairy tales and Aesop‘s fables. 😄 4y
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megnews
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SaturnDoo 🤫😮I'm not a fan of Dr. Seuss's books and neither are my sons. 4y
sblbooks Dr. Seuss had too many tongue twisters for me. We had to read it for school. 4y
megnews @sblbooks @SaturnDoo that‘s so funny. I read several to my kids so many times I had them memorized. We loved them! 4y
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Roary47 I‘m a horrible book critic especially for children‘s books. I enjoy Dr. Seuss as long as they are not too long and jump around a lot like one fish, two fish does. I have no idea how all the side stories tie in together. 4y
Butterfinger I can't think of a children's book that I didn't like. Maybe, the Babysitters Club. I couldn't get into them. 4y
megnews @Roary47 lol! I love that one. Sounds like I‘m in the minority on dr Seuss though. 4y
megnews @Butterfinger oh no! Say it isn‘t so. I love babysitters club! 🙂 4y
Butterfinger I don't like Junie B Jones for emerging readers. They are too young to know that the weird spellings are to show Junie's personality or how she mispronounces words. I'm pretty opinionated on that. 4y
megnews @Butterfinger I didn‘t like it because she used the word stupid a lot 4y
megnews @Butterfinger I felt that way about teletubbies and one other show as far as the incoherent babbling. Kids need to hear real language. 4y
SaturnDoo @megnews 🤣 I didn't care for Teletubbies either but the speech language pathology in me says that motherese/fatherese/parentsese aka baby talk is good for bonding with very young babies for a few months but must end. 4y
Littlewolf1 It was a book called The Paper Bag Princess, it was suppose to be empowering but I felt betrayed as a young girl. 4y
erzascarletbookgasm I‘ve never read Dr Seuss so I didn‘t introduce them to my kids when they were young 🤷‍♀️ 4y
megnews @SaturnDoo yeah, I did a little of that too. But a whole show? For kids old enough to have screen time? No. 😂 4y
megnews @Littlewolf1 wow. I‘ve never heard of it. You‘re description makes me want to take a peek. 4y
SaturnDoo @megnews 😂yep I agree!!!! Thank goodness my kids weren't interested in Teletubbies because I wouldn't have allowed it if they were😖 I couldn't stand to listen to that nonsense. (edited) 4y
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megnews
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megnews For me it was the Story a Day anthology and The Lion the Wirch and the Wardrobe series. 4y
Roary47 I would have to agree with the Narnia series, Harry Potter, and Into the land of unicorns. My children are still too young to sit through anything but picture books right now. 4y
Butterfinger Definitely Caps For Sale for me and Santa Mouse for my husband. 4y
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megnews @Butterfinger so funny! I really didn‘t like Caps for Sale. 4y
Littlewolf1 I actually have a collection of books that my grandfather gave me when I was a child. It has different poems and stories in each one and changes to fit age ranges as a child grows... I would want to pass those on to my child. 4y
megnews @littlewolf1 It‘s so great you have something like that to pass on. 4y
15 likes6 comments
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megnews
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Dear #OverBookedClub,
Please accept my apologies. My daughters went to the protest in Cleveland today and I haven‘t been able to do anything but check in on them and pray for their safety. They‘re On Their way home now. I will post questions tomorrow at noon. Again, please accept my apologies.

Prairiegirl_reading I hope she gets home safe and also good for her! 4y
Butterfinger No apologies are needed. You should be proud of them. And, I know how worried you were about their safety. Did you happen to read Ghost Boys during the middle grade month? I'm telling everyone who lets their stupidity and racism show - read this book and then we'll talk. 4y
JoScho Good for them! ✊🏼 4y
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megnews @Butterfinger I read that about a year ago. Definitely an important read. 4y
kspenmoll I am so glad they are safe. My niece lives in Minneapolis right down the street from where the Target burnt down. She is fine. You should be proud of your daughters but I understand your worry. 4y
Hooked_on_books Good for them for raising their voices. I‘m glad they‘re heading home safely. 4y
Julsmarshall I‘m sure you‘re proud of your girls for speaking their truth. I understand your worry, glad they are safe. This is such a difficult time, thinking of you! 4y
erzascarletbookgasm So glad they‘re on the way home safely. 4y
megnews @Prairiegirl_reading @Butterfinger @JoScho @kspenmoll @Hooked_on_books @Julsmarshall @erzascarletbookgasm thank you for the kind and supportive words. It was one of the hardest parenting decisions I‘ve made as I‘ve seen the unrest but it was very important to my daughter. Glad her older sister was there to watch out for her. Thanks again! 4y
60 likes9 comments
review
Butterfinger
Pickpick

I feel like I have found a piece of my soul I didn't know I was missing. If only I had known there were others like me when I was younger I wouldn't be the unconfident person I am now. My Nanny would say (to defend my honor) "She's like that because she reads so much." Although she was the one to support my reading addiction.

Do you have a best friend, Lucy Mangan?

Curiouser_and_curiouser I was the same as a child, very little confidence & would read constantly. In fact I had only 1 friend, or sometimes no friends in primary school & would just spend all of my recess & lunch times reading by myself. Every school holidays I would borrow the maximum books allowed from school library & finish them that 1st weekend. I hope you've become more confident as you have grown. I have but I am still extremely uncomfortable with confrontation. 4y
Butterfinger @Curiouser_and_curiouser I still have to deal with social anxiety. It's a daily battle. I'm glad we found each other on Litsy. 4y
Curiouser_and_curiouser I'm sorry to hear of your struggle. My brother is closer to this than I am, I totally understand. Actually I found that my work/career did bring me out of a lot of the anxiety I used to feel, as well as my often bold hubby and some yucky situations over the past few years. My 18yr old also has his own anxiety demons. We all deal with it in our own way, but books are just so safe and lovely to fall into aren't they. Glad we are Litsy buddies too 😊 4y
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Butterfinger

This quote is a home run.

As an adult, worries are greater and it takes a more powerful page to be able to banish them for the duration. Perhaps you appreciate it all the more when it comes, but I miss the days of effortless immersion, and the glorious certainty of pleasure.

#MonthofMemoirs @megnews @sblbooks I especially felt it in March when my world was turned on end.

megnews This resonated deeply with me too. 4y
33 likes1 comment
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megnews
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Just a reminder to watch for discussion tomorrow about noon.
#OverBookedClub

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Butterfinger

To this day, the idea of a sociable bookworm sounds to me like the oxymoron to end all oxymorons, but apparently they were out there and they descended on her club (Puffin) in droves.

@megnews @sblbooks I have forgotten the tag.

30 likes1 comment
review
Roary47
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Mehso-so

As a bookworm myself I could relate to a lot of what was discussed in this memoir. However, as all bookworms are we had many times different tastes and interests. I also didn‘t know/hear about a lot of books that were discussed. This book is a reflection of her childhood reading, reviews of the books that were read, and incite to the authors life.

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megnews
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I don‘t think I ever scheduled the #OverBookedClub discussion of Bookworm. Look for questions next Saturday May 30 beginning about noon EST. If you can‘t participate at that time, please post whenever you can! I always check back.
Don‘t forget to grab June‘s book, I Was Anastasia.

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megnews
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Pickpick

A beautiful tribute to childhood reading. I shared many favorites in common with the author, but many more we did not. Added several to my tbr. Whether you‘ve read what she has or not, it is the feeling leaping off the page to take you back to remember what it was to be swept away and lost in a book as a child that makes this book worth a read. Recommend.

#OverBookedClub

Butterfinger I finally received a copy. Can't wait to get started. Is the discussion tomorrow? 5y
megnews @Butterfinger my life has been so crazy I can‘t remember if I ever said when it‘s going to be. I think I‘m going to wait til next Saturday. So you have some time. Glad you got a copy! 5y
52 likes1 stack add2 comments
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megnews
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Impossible to list all the books mentioned in chapter 10. A whopping 36. Here, I‘ve posted those I read growing up as well as one added to my tbr. The perfect finale with such a glorious tribute to Judy Blume.

#OverBookedClub

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megnews
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Chapter 9. Lots of Antonia Forest, who I‘d never heard of. I‘ve only read 2 from this chapter. Lord of the Flies-forced upon me in high school. Jane Eyre, which I love, read to my Gran on the way to NC one summer. I have started Wuthering Heights several times and can‘t get past the first few pages.
Have you read any? Added any to your list?
#OverBookedClub

sblbooks Lord of the Flies and Wuthering Heights, were high school required reading. 5y
Roary47 I also read Lord or the flies, wuthering heights, and 1984 as high school required reading. 5y
rubyslippersreads I‘ve read the two Brontës and Autumn Term, plus I have a few Antonia Forests on my shelves, not yet read. 5y
42 likes3 comments
review
erzascarletbookgasm
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Pickpick

This book is a trip back to childhood and it warmly captures the joy and contentment of a reader/bookworm. Lucy shares her list of childhood favourite books, and a glimpse of her childhood in a family of non-readers but with a father who kept feeding her books. Our list of favourites may not be all the same but I enjoyed discovering the ones I didn‘t know; the stories behind the books, and 👇

#OverBookedClub #MonthOfMemoirs
#mandmchallenge2020

erzascarletbookgasm (continue) ..introduction of the authors. Quite often funny & entertaining, this book will have you rummaging out your old copies of childhood favourites to reread or obtain a copy of the ones you‘ve missed. 5y
sblbooks True, I added several to my TBR. 5y
arlenefinnigan I loved this. 5y
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megnews Contentment. That‘s the feeling that keeps coming back to me as I read it. Great review! 5y
erzascarletbookgasm @BarbaraTheBibliophage I forgot to tag this as book read for #memoirsandmysteries challenge #bookish 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I‘m late to say yay! 💕 4y
77 likes4 stack adds6 comments
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megnews
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Three pages in and pretty sure this will be my least favorite chapter. Not a fan of dystopia or science fiction. Tempted to skip it but I‘d be a bad book club host!
#OverBookedClub

Butterfinger Hahaha!! 5y
41 likes1 comment
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megnews
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The rest of the books from chapter 8. Who knew there was a sequel to 101 Dalmatians? 🤷🏻‍♀️ Mrs Frisby was popular when I was growing up but I never read it nor did I read EB White‘s books except Charlotte‘s Web. My dislike for animal books again. 😂 But my biggest question is how have I never been inspired to read The Phantom Tollbooth?! Must. Read. Soon. I put the audio on hold. Sounds great!

#OverBookedClub

CarolynM Just William❤️❤️❤️ I read my father's copies from the 1940's. My favourite was (edited) 5y
sblbooks I want to read Goodnight Mr. Tom. 5y
mrsmarch I love the Phantom Tollbooth!!! 5y
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Chrissyreadit I read The Phantom Tollbooth with my kids for the first time - I loved it!!! I did not read many children‘s books until my adult years. 5y
megnews @carolynm that‘s awesome! 5y
LeahBergen Tom‘s Midnight Garden! ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
44 likes6 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
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““Leave us be. We‘re fine. More than fine. Reading‘s our thing.”

💚 Amen to that!

#OverBookedClub #MonthOfMemoirs

megnews 💗 5y
50 likes1 comment
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erzascarletbookgasm
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“..I have lived so many lives through books, gone to so many places, so many eras, looked through so many different eyes...”

🙌 No, People, books do not isolate us.

#OverBookedClub #MonthOfMemoirs

rubyslippersreads ❤️ this quote. 5y
Sace PREACH! 5y
megnews I love this!! 5y
batsy 🙌🏽 5y
51 likes4 comments
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megnews
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I spent every 💵 of my allowance on books, many sequels. I remember having my family leave me at the bookstore when we went to the mall. I was never ready to leave when they got back no matter how long it was.

#OverBookedClub

erzascarletbookgasm 🙌 likewise! But I‘ve never heard of this series before I come to this chapter. 5y
rubyslippersreads I‘ve had this series recommended to me so many times, but haven‘t read it yet. 5y
megnews @erzascarletbookgasm @rubyslippersreads I had never heard of this series. I‘m not much for reading series anymore but I used to love them. 5y
40 likes3 comments
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megnews
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Makes me think how glad I am that my reading choices were never censored by my parents.

#OverBookedClub

alisiakae 🙌🏽🙌🏽 Yes! This is my parental philosophy, and I‘ve definitely had pushback from other parents in the past offering unwanted and unsolicited reading advice (when they probably hadn‘t read a book in years). Yep, I‘m prickly about it. 🤣 5y
rubyslippersreads Not only did my parents not censor my reading material, but when I was in sixth grade, the children‘s librarian told me I could check out anything I wanted from the adult section. 😊 5y
megnews @4thhouseontheleft great parenting philosophy! It‘s mine too. Can‘t imagine depriving my kids of a book. 5y
41 likes5 comments
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megnews
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The puns in The Phantom Tollbooth. I ❤️ this simile.

#OverBookedClub

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megnews
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A farm. A cosy barn. A plump, endearing hero and a watchful, clever friend. Sounds charming, doesn‘t it? It is. It was. I set my prejudice against talking animals aside and read on delightedly.

I set my prejudice against talking animals aside for Charlotte‘s Web as well 😂

#OverBookedClub

rubyslippersreads I don‘t have a prejudice against talking animals—Babe the Pig, Archy and Mehitabel, Tapiola, Thomasina, etc. And of course, Charlotte and Wilbur too. 😊🐷🕷 5y
43 likes1 comment
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megnews
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All the books from chapter 7. Some are repeats from other chapters. I‘ve read the entire Little House series and Anne of Green Gables series. Also Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

#OverBookedClub

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megnews
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All the books from chapter 7. Some are repeats from other chapters. I‘ve read the entire Little House series and Anne of Green Gables series. Also Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

#OverBookedClub

25 likes1 comment