Laura’s Literary Journey:A lifetime of reading & books

Laura AlgerLSIS 5525Spring 2013 – Dr. Edna CogdellAssignment 4 “Literary Heritage Autobiography”

1972: The beginning of my life as a reader

Born: 1972 @ Aitkin, Minnesotaa rural village; lived in a ranch homeon a lake, next to my grandparents.

I have memories of the bookmobile coming to the end of our dirt road and running up to the bookmobile with my brother to get books. I loved when the bookmobile visited us!

My mother reports she would take me as a toddler to the public library “in town” for story times.

)

My family roots: view from dock and family farmland

and property

Preferred Pre-K books:Little Golden Books and Dr. Seuss

1977: family moved to Ohio• 1977-1982:

Attended Carlisle & Smith Elementary School in Delaware, Ohio.

Esteemed Elementary Books:• In elementary school I enjoyed reading:

– Monster at the End of the Book• my #1 book!

– Where the Sidewalk Ends• adored Silverstein’s poems!

– Beverly Cleary • especially Ramona series

– Judy Blume • I have vivid memories of all the girls gathering

around this area to select our next Judy Blume book.

– Charlotte’s Web• I remember being upset about beloved

Charlotte and heart broken Wilbur.– Little House on the Prairie

• Could not put these books down once my family moved out to the country and being surrounded by farms, as I would actually pretend I was Laura Ingles living on the prairie!

– Amelia Bedelia– Madeline

1983-1986: My middle school years @

Willis Jr. High… Go Panthers!

My Main Middle School Books!• Sweet Valley High Series

– I read them non-stop!

*A required book to read was The Outsiders and I have vivid memories of a musical production coming to visit the school. *I loved my dog, Patsy, who was part of the family; and feel this helped me develop a love of books about animals. I still remember my heavy heart after reading Old Yeller and Where the Red fern Grows.

1986-1990:My family relocated to Raleigh, NC

and attended Sanderson High School

Treasured books in High School While in high school I engaged in required reading for academic purposes, and little recreational reading due to busy schedule to include homework, working a part time job, and athletics/extra curricular activities.

– I remember “not liking to read” at this point in my life. Looking back I believe this was due to teachers requiring us to dissect our books, which took the pleasure out of reading for me.

1990-1994: The College Years

• Drowning in textbooks ….no memories of reading for pleasure during this time of my life!? I am sure I read something for fun…but no sadly no memories of that!??

1st time in Graduate School:Masters of Speech-Language

Pathology• More drowning in

textbooks…..

Career Time!• More time is finally able to be

dedicated to my hobbies, to include pleasure reading; and time for my first book club (which I am still in today).

• Also, started to read many of the books on the Oprah’s book list.

2004-2005:Marriage, house, & a baby!

• Browsing magazines for bridal and wedding ideas and planning.

• Reading non-fiction books to plan for a baby, purchasing a home, having a happy marriage.

2005-present:“Juggling” being: mom, grad student, part time employee

Also, juggling my reading:-text books and required novels for MLS,-research articles required for MLS,-keeping up in fields of Librarianship and

Speech Therapy via professional magazines and newspapers, and online blogs/articles/news

feeds,-reading Junie B. Jones, Magic TreeHouse books with child,-reading my Book Club Books.

*however this is the first readingthat is being neglected whilein grad school

Autobiography: Reflection of my Literary

Heritage

My personal journey of reading is highly influenced by what age and stage of life I am in and what my priorities are during that moment of time.

Just as my life has evolved, this assignment has demonstrated to me, my literary needs, demands, and desires change as well.

Autobiography: Reflection of my Literary

Heritage What has maintained constant is a love of historical fiction and books with a rural country setting; possibly due to my “family roots” beginning in rural areas.

As a child I lived for reading Little House on the Prairie books, and now enjoy books about the Amish, or plots set during the civil war. Prior to this assignment, I did not recognize that connection.

Autobiography: Reflection of my Literary

Heritage • Remembering the joy I had from the bookmobile visits as a preschooler “out in the middle of nowhere,” makes me more cognizant of the positive impacts a youth services public librarian can have on a child and their family.

• Additionally, remembering the books I was required to read as a middle and high school student has me see the important role a school librarian, English teachers, and a districts’ curriculum can have as well:

making lasting memories and impressions.

Autobiography: Reflection of my Literary

Heritage • During my lifetime I have read

a lot of books. There are some books I remember the plot, characters, scenes, and details; while others I do not recall any of the story.

• This thought is something I would like to do further inquiry; as to what makes someone remember a book vividly while others they quickly forget…

Autobiography: Reflection of my Literary

Heritage • Unfortunately, it appears

that during my busiest moments of formal education: undergraduate and graduate school I have no recollections of reading for pleasure.

• Even during my MLS I have put aside my book club and pleasure readings for the meantime.

Autobiography: Reflection of my Literary

Heritage • Understanding ones

literary journey can be a means to help one guide themselves to other books, genres, or authors they may enjoy.

• Also, remembering the books you enjoyed as a child can be something a parent may wish to pass along to their own children.

Resources• Images from google.com