Memories of Books

The other day while driving home from work I heard a song on the radio I hadn’t heard in awhile. I used to love the song and played it nonstop on my i-pod when it first came out. It made me a little sad to realize that I hadn’t listened to it in so long. I was glad to hear it and turned up the volume and enjoyed the moment. It also got me thinking; hearing an old song you once enjoyed can immediately take you back where you were when you first heard the song. A good book can do the same, instantly take you back to a moment or feeling you associated with the book.

Senior year of high school I put off reading The Scarlet Letter until the day before the entire book was due to be read. I spent that Sunday out on the porch at my childhood home reading about Hester Prynne and trying my best to finish the book in time (which I did, but this was really not a good idea). Now anytime a teen comes in looking for the book to read for their school assignment, I think of that Sunday at home.

Last March we had those horrific ice storms and the library gave us a snow day (YAY!) one Saturday I was supposed to work. It was perfect timing, the day before I had gotten the new Jodi Picoult novel, Change of Heart. I spent what would have been my eight hour shift starting and finishing this book. Anytime I see this book now, I always think of the thrill of a snow day and of the warmth of reading in bed for 8 hours, only getting up for another cup of tea.

These are just two of my book reading memories, moments that I’ll associate with the books. I read so much it’s hard to always recall where I was when I read a certain book. Like certain songs though, certain book moments just remain memorable. What moments with books have you had? Can you remember a particular picture or chapter book from childhood and where you were when you read it? Do you ever see a book on your book shelf, or ours, and instantly remember where you were when you read it?

Current Read: Stop that Girl by Elizabeth McKenzie