I can’t remember exactly when I fell in love with books. It was early on that’s for sure, but my real, honest to goodness love affair with books began when my mother moved to an apartment building a half block away from a Los Angeles Public Library. I found it first. It was at the end of our street in a small circle with a little park. My sisters immediately headed for the swings in the park, but I wandered to the library and opened the door.
Libraries smell like knowledge. There is that wonderful smell of paper, ink, books. This little library was almost empty when I went in. The librarian was really friendly and welcoming. She invited me to browse and gave me information about a Summer Reading Program where you earned stickers or something like that (memory is fading) in return for reading and writing book reports. I was instantly obsessed. I read book after book; wrote book report after book report and pulled myself up to the top of the leaderboard (ok so it was a piece of paper). By the end of the summer, I was firmly obsessed with books and reading. I’d become a bookworm.
My sisters never shared my fascination. “Gina’s always reading her dumb books” they’d say and laugh. I didn’t care. I buried myself in deeper and expanded my wanderings to more libraries, bigger ones and school libraries. I seemed to live and breathe in libraries. I found out about used bookstores and spent a crazy amount of time at the Brand Bookshop (still around) in Glendale, sitting amongst the stacks of books. I got savvy about trading in books for store credit and getting more books. My mother was often angry at my rapidly growing collection of books.
I grew up and books always had a huge place in my houses or apartments. First thing I look at when visiting someone’s house? The bookshelves. I’ve turned down dates with guys because they say (insert horrified gasp here) that they don’t read books. Ack. We’d never get along. I bought a huge bed just to have room for my books and notebooks because I always fall asleep with a book or two in hand. Nightstand/bookshelves are a necessity. Looking for a place to live the first things I think are “is the kitchen big enough and is there room for my books.” My children HATE when I move because they know they are going to be lifting box after box after box of books.
I started this blog out of a love of books. It’s my own personal book report of the books that find their way into my life. I have grandchildren now and they are avid readers, a fact my children parade in front of me because they know that will make me melt. I read on Kindle, Nook, Android aps on my phone, hardcover and paperback.
Over the years I’ve met others with my obsessive love for books and felt a deep kinship. Growing up there weren’t many of us in my neighborhood. I think I was the only one. With the blog and social media, I’ve found there’s lots and lots of us and that’s a wonderful thing.
I am beginning my sixth year with the Cybils this year. This year, I am an organizer for the Non-fiction Middle Grade and YA category and I’m learning a lot. I’ve managed to assemble a mighty strong panel filled with people who are even more obsessed with books than I am. It’s going to be a wild ride and I’m thrilled to be taking it with a bunch of fellow bookworms and library lovers.
