I love to quilt, but bookstores are truly my Happy Place. This picture was taken a year ago when we visited our son in Ireland. We had traveled to Cork by train and spent an entire day exploring that city. Highlights were a local farmers' market and this bookstore. I think it may have been a really nice Waterstone's, but I don't remember for sure.
I just remember seeing familiar books, new books, fabulous book accessories, and wanting to take it all home with me. I spent a couple of hours in there and finally left when I noticed my husband and son standing outside waiting for me.
I grew up reading. When I was four years old, I recall being able to read my little Golden books. I don't know if it was the memory of having the books read to me, or if I really could make out the sentences, but I felt as if I could read. And I've never stopped. I was always astonishing my teachers by what I could read and had read at a precocious age.
I recall being a kid, having sick days when I couldn't go to school, where I lay in my bed reading for hours. It was the best escape from not feeling great. As time went on, I certainly didn't need to be sick to appreciate the escape from the real world that books provided.
When it came time to declare a major in college, I had no idea what to do. I had a vague idea that it might be nice to teach, but all I really wanted to do was read. Major in English Literature? That could work. Whatever would I do with a degree in that subject? Didn't matter. I just wanted to read my way through college.
Like many girls of my era, I ended up getting married and having a kid, so what I studied in college didn't really matter. Except that I loved reading to my children and ended up raising two readers.
As the old lady I am now, I could have regrets that I didn't pursue a career that allowed me to capitalize on my passion for reading. I could have been a librarian, a teacher, a book editor, a bookstore owner, a literary agent, a book reviewer, or maybe even an author. Do I have regrets? Maybe a little.
I think at this point in my life, I must content myself with continuing to be a reader and by sharing my love of books with others as best I can. You can read my book reviews here, listen to the book review podcast I do with my daughter, Sara, or check me out on Goodreads. I'll never stop reading and feeling gratified by sharing my book experiences with others.
17 Responses
Love this post! I read so much when I was young, my eyes suffered. For a whole summer I was not allowed to read in order to give my eyes a break. It was a horrible summer.
I’ve read a lot of books you have recommended. I have also learned so much about quilting with your inspiration. You are do so much for the reading and quilting communities without having a teaching certificate. Thank you!
I so love to read also. I like quilting while listening to a book, but there is nothing better than a good book, a cup of tea and my La-Z-Boy!
When I was a child, Mom would send me to my room to clean. I always read instead. And she always knew!!🤷♀️
I read constantly- when I’m not quilting or otherwise engaged. My mother was a childrens’ librarian so we all became great readers. We read to our children from birth. I think they do most of their reading on the computer now! Kindle unlimited helps feed my compulsion.
Nicole I love to read too but it had taken a backseat for years. The last few years I have committed to reading two books a month. Some months I make it and some I don’t. I credit you with getting me to read more! I love your book reviews and usually take your top 2 or 3 picks and read them. Last month I read four books! This month I’m on target to read 3 books! Thank you. You will never know how many people you inspire.
You raised a reader, and that is incredibly important! If a child can read, they can leap ahead with every other subject.
I learned to read at an early age, read to my kids from the times they were babies, and now my grandkids are insatiable readers.
I wasn’t content to read modern books because they all seemed too much alike and didn’t stimulate imagination for me. The classics are still my favorites; the stories were truly original.
When we were a few months into the isolating and lonely Covid lockdown, I curled up with a book. When I finished reading it a few hours later, I asked my husband if we were still in lockdown. I had been transported into the story and had lost track of reality for a little while. What a gift.
So nice learning a bit more about you. I have always been a very avid reader as well. I have very fond memories of climbing up into the large magnolia tree in our backyard with one of the Chronicles of Narnia books – I went through the entire set multiple times! There was a curve in the trunk on a branch which was the perfect fit for my back and I wiled the hours away, reading to my little heart’s content!
I am very glad you are committed to sharing your love of books with others. I so enjoy your book reviews and I share them with a couple of friends who enjoy them too.
I am a slow reader and I don’t devote enough time to reading. Right now I’m rereading one of my favorite books….Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. I am always amazed at how many books you read! And you spend a lot of time in your sewing room as well. I love your blog and look forward to it each day!
Bookstores are my happy place.
Love your blog. I like anything you post. Your book posts are my favorite. Recently a blog that I liked said she was giving hers up because of lack of comments. I seldom comment and I resolve to become a comment or!
I have a friend who says the book store is her happy place, so I laughed when I read today’s title & first sentence! She isn’t a quilter but watching football on tv is her other ‘vice’! And, don’t sell yourself short! I think you’ve used your English Lit major well in this world!
I loved reading your story! I’ve been a bibliophile since I could read and was sick much of my childhood. My “treat” after Drs appts was a trip to the library where I’d load up on books then snuggle in bed to read. Books have been an important part of my life! I, like you, wish I would have been directed to a book related career but alas, I wasn’t so I have just enjoyed them on the side. At age 59, in started a Bookstagram page and have found much drought in doing so. Many hours of happy reading ahead to you! 📚
Good grief 😳 autocorrect – I have found so much joy in doing the Bookstagram page not drought 🤣
any suggestions for a book by a first time author?
need one for book club.
I’m a lifelong reader, too, and that’s a major reason that I became a librarian. I’m still reading and recommending. What’s your podcast? I’d like to listen in. (And — I thought you were in your forties!)
I volunteer at our church preschool and read to the children once a week. I love books and reading and Children’s books are so much fun to read aloud. I get to share and maybe encourage them to love reading too.
Lovely post. I feel a kindred spirit in you. Quilting is a big part of my life, but if I had to choose one hobby over the other it would be reading. Two hours in a bookstore? Easy!