Hot Fun in the Summertime–Tales and Tunes
By APOOO • Aug 16th, 2008 • Category: APOOO Features, Hot Fun in the Summertime •
Email This Post
• 
Print This Post
As many of you know, I am an avid reader. In a good week, I can read three-four books. (Although it’s been ages since I’ve had the time to do this.) I remember discovering the ‘black’ public library across the street from our family’s church when I was around 7 or 8 years-old. It was at that library that I got my first library card and my love for reading grew even more. Until I could afford to purchase books with my weekly allowance, every Saturday I would head to the library and spend hours there reading books and then later checking out two-three books at closing time; during the summer I would check out more each week. I spent so much time at that library (which was named the WEB Dubois branch) that the librarians got to know me quite well and would set books aside for my return visits. Even tho’ our paths would change as I travelled different roads, these women stayed apart of my life until the day they died. I truly was raised by a community–but I digressed and that’s a different blog. LOL.
As I entered into my teen years, weekly trips to the library became scare and I also discovered the ‘white’ public library which had more books and what ever they did not have, they would order for me…see they had a budget and could afford to order books on a whim unlike the WEB DuBois branch…sigh. It is funny that even as a child I noticed this inequity but fortunately my love of reading took me places that those narrow-minded times could not.
I never complained about being bored as a child. For two reasons, one if I did my parents would find chores for me to do, lol; and, two, I could always escape via a book. I could be Nancy Drew, Sojourner Truth, Harriett Tubman, Anne Frank, Maya Angelou, the Happy Hooker (yep I read that one during my teen years) and travel to places near and afar. Because I was usually busy with homework and activities during the school week, I did not generally get much reading done until the weekends. So, I looked forward to summers not only to hang out with friends, sleep in late and stay up until the wee hours of the morning but also because it meant I had free time and could read a different book each and every day if I chose.
During my teen years, I had more extracurricular activities, and later the mix included jobs and boys, so I did not read as much as I once did. But, when I did get a chance to read it was always a relaxing and enjoyable experience that made me realize that I missed it and could not wait until I had the opportunity to do it again. I also discovered and added a new element to the joy of reading–music. To this day, I still read with music in the background, and sometimes I add a glass of wine, candles, a bubble bath and flavored scents.
But, for me, the one constant is always tunes…there’s nothing like good tales and tunes to relax me and help me escape the stresses of life!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
When did you discover the joy of reading?
Who was the first African American author you discovered? How old were you?
Do you have any reading rituals? Share them.
HAPPY SATURDAY FROM APOOO BOOKS.
Related Posts
APOOO is a book club and an online author and reader community dedicated to advancing African American literature. Our mission is to expose readers of all ages to a good book in any genre; to support African American authors, books, literary events and bookclubs; to provide marketing resources, tools and tips to authors; and, to promote literacy within the African American community.
Email this author | All posts by APOOO
When did you discover the joy of reading?
I discovered reading at a very early age. I don’t know how I convinced my mother, but she would allow my brother and I to walk to the public library that was not really close to our home so I could get books. And when my brother didn’t want to come, I would walk by myself carrying a shopping bag or book bag to carry back the arm full of books. I was eight years old.
Who was the first African American author you discovered? How old were you?
I was not exposed to any AA authors until I was in high school. I was in my last year of high school, sixteen years old. I started reading James Baldwin my favorite was If Beale Street Could Talk. I found Richard Wright, I read Black Boy. Then Toni Morrison said hello to me and Gloria Naylor.
Do you have any reading rituals?
I read at least four books at one time. I can say there is certain genres I stay away from, and others I can’t get enough of. It’s not the genres most would think. If you know me then you know the things I love.
I really got into reading as teen, about 14. Before then i read really well in all my classes and fast. I always was placed at a higher reading level than my grade level in grade school. But for pleasure, i wasn’tt too interested based on the reading assignments given out at school. I could not identify with any of the characters and the subjects were usually boring; making reading more of a pain.
Around 14 I started hearing about people reading some good books found at our local library. At the time, everyone was buzzing about Terry McMillan. As soon as I got a chance, I went to the public library with my mom dropping me off on Saturdays. They had an African American section full of books. Terry McMillan’s Waiting to Exhale was course checked out and there was a waiting list, so I went for Maya Angelou. I read all of her fiction books starting with “I know Why The Caged Bird Sings”. After that I was hooked on reading and reading AA authors.
I don’t have any reading rituals. I just like to travel to a new place and time in my mind. I love learning and soaking up information and reading is one of the ways I do it.
When did you discover the joy of reading? I had to be about three and my mother would read to me. I was mesmerized by the stories but more so by how she would bring it to life for me. I wanted to do what she did so she taught me how to read and from then on its been a true lifetime love.
Who was the first African American author you discovered? How old were you? Well, I had to be around ten. My local library had all the basic young adult books: all the Judy Blooms, Sweet Valley Highs, Lois Duncan, etc. I went through them all and progressed to the “adult” section. It had all the “classic” AA writers so I started there and I fell in love with Langston Hughes. I then began reading Wright, Baldwin, etc.
Do you have any reading rituals? Share them. My only ritual is that if I like one book by an author I then try to read all they have written. It becomes a bit time consuming because some authors are very prolific.
Oh for my ritual I should have added that I make it a point to buy books every two weeks. Its just the first thing I look forward to every paycheck. LOL!
Jennifer–the only time I read 4 books at a time was when I was in college…hehe.
Deidra–Terry McMillian…you’re young real young…hehe…but a reader nonetheless!
Raven–I used to buy books every time I got paid…now I can’t think of that many books that I wan to read…lol.