One of the highlights of my career as a teacher-librarian was being asked to write a cover blurb for a children’s novel by Henry Shykoff (a true sweetheart of a man). Terry, thanks for pulling up that memory with this latest Novel Journey. As always, I love what you write.
I have always considered books a refuge. I often read a novel I love, then need to read the entire backlist of the author. I also love returning to favourite books and immersing myself in that world again.
This idea of marking the phases of our lives through the books we read rings true for me. My dad subscribed to Time, Newsweek and Maclean's during the 1970s. I devoured those and used them as my gateway to the world, current events, popular culture, and more. I became very connected to Somerset Maugham's Of Human Bondage during the late 80s. Robertson Davies was in that period, too. Flash ahead to the 2000s and some writer named Terry Fallis showed up and left an indelible mark during my short political life with The Best Laid Plans. "This should be mandatory reading for all Canadians," I wrote at the time. I feel the same way today. Thanks Terry.
I remember the delight of Saturday mornings after I turned 9 and my parents decided we could be enrolled for swimming and skiing lessons at the closest YMCA to our rural home. All 7 of us would pack off in the family station wagon those mornings, and after our lessons we would make a stop where my mother would grocery shop at the Co-op, while directly downstairs, we children could visit the local library. I had my own library card, and each week would check out an arm's length of books. Whatever appealed. I learned to open prospective titles in a few different places in each book, and surmise whether the writer's style would hold my interest. What adventures in reading I had, literally with the flashlight under the covers on school nights through the week to come. By the next weekend, I was ready for the next stack of books. I learned so much about the world, and life reading so many books. I also consulted our family's "World Book Encyclopedia" that my parents bought from a door-to-door salesman (seriously! it came with a bonus free set of Childcraft Encyclopdia too!) and did my best to teach myself how to swim before my 9th birthday when we were old enough to join the Y. This is a great story, so I think I will save it for writing class!
Thanks for your blog Terry. It's wonderful being able to share your thoughts on writing. A privilege.
I never really thought about books being a memory hook, (I think songs are more powerful memory hooks than books) but some do stick and are associated with key points in our lives, e.g., The Hardy Books, and yes, ‘Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance’ (clearly I am fixated on my youth).
And as to your point of reading novels from the perspective of a writer, I think this has actually tainted my joy of reading, involuntarily critiquing (or envying) the writer’s style.
And last, as to giving back to the writing community I applaud you for your generosity in reading others’ manuscripts. At Canadian Authors (of which I am Treasurer and chief strategist) we are working on putting in place a ‘Beta Readers Service’ of accomplished authors for aspiring and emerging writers.
I turned 85 in January. I’m physically slowing down because my spine is falling to pieces. However, at 85 something is bound to kill me!! Ha! Hope you are well and thriving. Well, what else can I expect from you. Please say hello to Nancy. Are your boys still on the payroll ?
I understand that Dee at the Coldwater library is delighted that you are coming on March 11. I am passing the information along to everyone. The problem is: I’m old and so are the members of our book club as well as most of my friends Older people often will not drive after dark. However, I love driving, daylight or night time, and intend to be in attendance.
Glad to read that you and your brother survived your first street “ tumble “. Always enjoy reading your posts. This one brought back lots of memories to me as well. Being a fan of Nancy Drew, I can recall sitting under a tree on our front lawn during the hot hazy days of summer with a friend totally engrossed in Nancy’s adventures with her best friends. And if you received one of her books as a present, everyone would sign inside the cover and that was the order we passed the book from reader to reader…by the time the book was returned to the owner, it showed signs of being “ well read” and “ well loved’! Thanks for the memories!
What a wonderful read, Terry and step back in time! I was an early Nancy Drew reader but moved on to Ton Swift and the Hardy Boys as I got tired of Nancy being chloroformed! Lol! When you hit the Zen phase, did you read Ayn Rand too? So many funny phases that I remember tearing through like ghosts/esp, Harlequins/westerns to see what they were all about - short stint! History (dad lived Canadian history so I raided his library), fantasy and science fiction. Now, anything goes - and usually I have a good range underway depending on my mood.
One of the highlights of my career as a teacher-librarian was being asked to write a cover blurb for a children’s novel by Henry Shykoff (a true sweetheart of a man). Terry, thanks for pulling up that memory with this latest Novel Journey. As always, I love what you write.
I have always considered books a refuge. I often read a novel I love, then need to read the entire backlist of the author. I also love returning to favourite books and immersing myself in that world again.
This idea of marking the phases of our lives through the books we read rings true for me. My dad subscribed to Time, Newsweek and Maclean's during the 1970s. I devoured those and used them as my gateway to the world, current events, popular culture, and more. I became very connected to Somerset Maugham's Of Human Bondage during the late 80s. Robertson Davies was in that period, too. Flash ahead to the 2000s and some writer named Terry Fallis showed up and left an indelible mark during my short political life with The Best Laid Plans. "This should be mandatory reading for all Canadians," I wrote at the time. I feel the same way today. Thanks Terry.
I remember the delight of Saturday mornings after I turned 9 and my parents decided we could be enrolled for swimming and skiing lessons at the closest YMCA to our rural home. All 7 of us would pack off in the family station wagon those mornings, and after our lessons we would make a stop where my mother would grocery shop at the Co-op, while directly downstairs, we children could visit the local library. I had my own library card, and each week would check out an arm's length of books. Whatever appealed. I learned to open prospective titles in a few different places in each book, and surmise whether the writer's style would hold my interest. What adventures in reading I had, literally with the flashlight under the covers on school nights through the week to come. By the next weekend, I was ready for the next stack of books. I learned so much about the world, and life reading so many books. I also consulted our family's "World Book Encyclopedia" that my parents bought from a door-to-door salesman (seriously! it came with a bonus free set of Childcraft Encyclopdia too!) and did my best to teach myself how to swim before my 9th birthday when we were old enough to join the Y. This is a great story, so I think I will save it for writing class!
Thanks for your blog Terry. It's wonderful being able to share your thoughts on writing. A privilege.
I never really thought about books being a memory hook, (I think songs are more powerful memory hooks than books) but some do stick and are associated with key points in our lives, e.g., The Hardy Books, and yes, ‘Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance’ (clearly I am fixated on my youth).
And as to your point of reading novels from the perspective of a writer, I think this has actually tainted my joy of reading, involuntarily critiquing (or envying) the writer’s style.
And last, as to giving back to the writing community I applaud you for your generosity in reading others’ manuscripts. At Canadian Authors (of which I am Treasurer and chief strategist) we are working on putting in place a ‘Beta Readers Service’ of accomplished authors for aspiring and emerging writers.
I turned 85 in January. I’m physically slowing down because my spine is falling to pieces. However, at 85 something is bound to kill me!! Ha! Hope you are well and thriving. Well, what else can I expect from you. Please say hello to Nancy. Are your boys still on the payroll ?
I understand that Dee at the Coldwater library is delighted that you are coming on March 11. I am passing the information along to everyone. The problem is: I’m old and so are the members of our book club as well as most of my friends Older people often will not drive after dark. However, I love driving, daylight or night time, and intend to be in attendance.
Was interested in your trip down your personal memory lane. 🙏
Glad to read that you and your brother survived your first street “ tumble “. Always enjoy reading your posts. This one brought back lots of memories to me as well. Being a fan of Nancy Drew, I can recall sitting under a tree on our front lawn during the hot hazy days of summer with a friend totally engrossed in Nancy’s adventures with her best friends. And if you received one of her books as a present, everyone would sign inside the cover and that was the order we passed the book from reader to reader…by the time the book was returned to the owner, it showed signs of being “ well read” and “ well loved’! Thanks for the memories!
What a wonderful read, Terry and step back in time! I was an early Nancy Drew reader but moved on to Ton Swift and the Hardy Boys as I got tired of Nancy being chloroformed! Lol! When you hit the Zen phase, did you read Ayn Rand too? So many funny phases that I remember tearing through like ghosts/esp, Harlequins/westerns to see what they were all about - short stint! History (dad lived Canadian history so I raided his library), fantasy and science fiction. Now, anything goes - and usually I have a good range underway depending on my mood.
Would it be possible to share a list of books read by your book club?