[Poll] As a child... were you?

[hardcastle]

My parents had general "you should have more friends" concerns but I think they always liked that I read a lot.

[badgoodDeb]

I wasn't discouraged from reading -- reading was a great thing, and my folks read to me when I was young. However, my Mom did (try to) limit me to "one book a day, and then you have to go outside!"

[crich70]

Originally Posted by chookie2

Came from a family of readers with a private mobile library that called to the door fortnightly but limited us to four books each. So i read everyone's books by the end of the fortnight. Dad's westerns & sci fi, grans mysteries, brothers adventures (Tarzan a fav) and my fantasy.(mum decd). Ended by becoming a Librarian myself so no harm done. Reading in bed, in chair and outdoors was the norm but conversation was not often an agenda, a silent home with solitary people in it...as readers tend to be in some cases. Nearing 65 years on i still read and am still solitary...but never lonely (books make good friends)..... as is my son who follows the family trend.

I agree. Books are good friends whom you can revisit any time and find a warm welcome.

[Janet54]

My favorite punishment was to be sent to my room and think about what I did. Alone with my book for hours and no one bothering me. I loved it!!

[pagansoul]

My mother loved that I read but I did have to be told to stop at night and go to sleep or I would not get up in the morning for school.

[Quake1028]

I read a ton, at all times of day, and was encouraged to do so (okay, maybe not the under covers stuff ).

[shanghaichica]

My parents encouraged me to read and always indulged me with books. I was never denied books. If we went out shopping at the weekends I'd always be bought books and could pick them out. However they didn't want me reading at night in bed when I was supposed to be sleeping, hence the need to read under the covers by torch light !

[Lin2412]

Originally Posted by Ravensknight

what about an option for parents who ENCOURAGED reading? My mother read to me every day after school and then when I discovered the library, my dad made sure to take us there on the weekends...

Your mother and father seem to be experts at parenting.
My parents don't have any particular impression on my reading habit. My father is a big fan of suspense or thrillers but he's never imposed it on us. My mother would comment on things other than reading. She's not a big fan of it. Hahaha.

[Lusitanic]

I barely read anything as a kid/teen. My grandmother would nag me about it and it made it feel like I was being made read. I remember trying to read but not being able to pay any attention. Now I'm trying to catch up and reading a bunch of books and academia related stuff.

I'm even now aiming to reread the classics I was supposed to read in high school because I berely remember them (I had zero interest back then).

[chookie2]

Just had coffee with an old friend and mentioned I read five books last week- her mouth dropped open- she shook her head and said " that's more books than I have read in my whole life" ( she is 60). So some parents do NOT encourage reading- Glad mine did.

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by chookie2

Just had coffee with an old friend and mentioned I read five books last week- her mouth dropped open- she shook her head and said " that's more books than I have read in my whole life" ( she is 60). So some parents do NOT encourage reading- Glad mine did.

Five is a lot from my perspective. Even when I'm in my heaviest reading periods I find it hard to read more than one per week. I'm curious how you find the time. Are you retired? Do you just read really fast? Do you read really short and easy books? :-)

[badgoodDeb]

When I'm not obsessing with other projects (I've been working on a Christmas project since Thanksgiving, and haven't even *seen* a book since then) I usually read one book on Saturday, one on Sunday, and two during the week nights available midweek. I read really fast, and I pick murder mysteries or the like, but they aren't at all short or easy.

[gwhite]

As a child there were no books in my house, and I was so hungry to read that I read my Mother's magazines, the newspaper, and even sauce labels. The biggest event in my young life was when they opened a library in the village. I remember the feeling of pure joy at being able to borrow books.
As a little boy delivering newspapers in the '40's I couldn't afford comics, (in the days when comics meant written stories) so read those I delivered and at the trot. I suspect that it was this is what made me a speed reader.

[Lin2412]

Originally Posted by gwhite

As a child there were no books in my house, and I was so hungry to read that I read my Mother's magazines, the newspaper, and even sauce labels. The biggest event in my young life was when they opened a library in the village. I remember the feeling of pure joy at being able to borrow books.
As a little boy delivering newspapers in the '40's I couldn't afford comics, (in the days when comics meant written stories) so read those I delivered and at the trot. I suspect that it was this is what made me a speed reader.

That's a wonderful story gwhite. I still look up to people who can speed read and comprehend all of it at the same time. But in the end it's really amazing to be able to do (read) the things you're passionate about.

[chookie2]

Originally Posted by twowheels

Five is a lot from my perspective. Even when I'm in my heaviest reading periods I find it hard to read more than one per week. I'm curious how you find the time. Are you retired? Do you just read really fast? Do you read really short and easy books? :-)

Yes 2 nd year as retired Teacher/ Librarian Twowheels , and loving every moment of it. Time to garden, time to read....all night if i want to. Lol i read full novels mostly, my genre are Fantasy, sci fi and horror ...pure escapism. I have a library of print reference books numbering over 3000 that i also use, plus some favorite authors in print, Tolkein, C.S. lLewis, RiceBurroughs,Alan Dean Foster, David Eddings, Wyndham et al that will remain with me unto death.......old friends.