I'm a first born.
In the main, I follow rules and find more than a little angst prickles my nerves when others do not. So I guess while I've made my generous share of mistakes in this life, most of them have come from bad judgement, rather than rule bending.
But I'm here to confess the rebelliousness of my childhood, sprouted from the deep pull to read when I was not supposed to. And to confess it still occurs.
1. I confess... As a little girl, I repeatedly read in church, even when my Dad stood at the pulpit delivering a well crafted sermon. I smuggled books in and let my mind wander far from Sunday morning services in the late 1970s... to the early 1800s when Mary Jones remarkably sought her own copy of the Bible. I confess escaping with Mary to the 1800s more than once, when I should have been firmly seated in the psychedelic era. But who can blame a little girl with a good book in her grip?2. I confess... I repeatedly read in the back seat of the car. At night. Even when my parents told me I'd ruin my vision. (I now wear contacts AND use reading glasses at the same time, so yeah.... they were right). I'd wait for the rhythmic flash of a street light, hold my book just so, and sneak in a line every few beats of the journey home. And who can blame a transfixed little girl with a good book in her grip?3. I confess... I repeatedly read in bed. Hours after I promised my mother the just to the end of the chapter lie. I figured a fabulous page turner erased all my good intentions. How could I not honour the writer and their wordsmith mastery? And who can blame a wide-awake little girl with a good book in her grip?4. And finally, I confess... I repeatedly read in school, with a fresh book hidden under the desk. When my favourite English teacher asked me about the themes of Schindler's Ark, I was too busy with Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant to offer a coherent answer. I fumbled my way through the wrong one, and she later pulled me aside to apologise for putting me on the spot. She knew how easily I faded into a story... and sent me back there with her blessing. (Good soul/best teacher ever - understood the passion of a reader better than anyone!)
And so on ... and so on... Until adulthood. Where I've been known to read in places and times when a grownup should know better. But who can blame an English teacher and fiction writer, with a good book in her hand, and plenty more simmering in her heart? Certainly not those who share the same affliction.
Anyone else game enough to confess? Where and when have you read a book you couldn't put down?
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Dorothy Adamek lives at Crabapple House with her Beloved, their three teenagers and five pampered backyard chickens. She writes historical romance, Aussie style. Follow her love of all thing yesteryear at Ink Dots. 
Although I'm not first born but youngest, I completely identify with your reading mania. I also have the reputation of always having had my nose in a book when I was young. I've sometimes considered myself to be a binge reader. I must know how a good story ends.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, I own both Mary Jones & her Bible and Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant. That was the first Anne Tyler book I'd read, and then I searched for more.
Hi Paula, I'm so glad you're a fan of Anne Tyler... and Mary Jones. She got me through many quiet days in my childhood. Such an inspiring story.
DeleteHere's to those who binge read and feed their reading mania. :)
I confess... to patting my daughter down with the fervor of customs security when she finally makes her long delayed exit from the 'washroom'.
ReplyDeleteI confess... to confiscating the warm smuggled volumes of reading material (Paula Vince titles included) found inside her fluffy dressing gown and scolding her with jealousy inspired rants and raves.
And who can blame the harried mother of three who'd love the chance to disappear into a small room with zero interruptions and a wonderfully crafted novel?
Brilliant reply, Penny! So good to know there are more of us willing to confess. I hope you get to that small room with nothing but a well crafted novel, very soon.
DeleteBlessings
Dotti :)
I was a late starter as far as reading novels goes. I was a first born - one of those good girls who read all the required academic books. But as an adult I confess... I developed the habit many years ago of going early to appointments at doctors, dentists etc, and to pick up the children, then grandchildren from school, so that I could have some quiet time in the car or waiting room to read whatever novel I was into. That doesn't mean that I don't spend many a night into the wee hours of the morning in bed, doing the same.
ReplyDeleteHi Carol, I love the idea of going to an appointment early with a good book to pass the time. You may not want to hear your name being called though, if you're up to a good part!
ReplyDeleteHappy reading. :)
As a child I was always being told to get my head out of the book.I can associate with that one Carol with appointments. I have also been known to be be stirring something on the stove with a book in the other hand or up at 2 or 3am reading. And I always take a book into the bath with me. Why I like baths rather than showers. Hard to read a book in a shower.
ReplyDeleteHi Dale, nice confessions! Reading in the bath is a real luxury isn't it?
DeleteBlessings,
Dotti :)
I confess to being caught as a child with a torch beneath the covers, well after my bedtime. I think my parents laughed at me more than scolded me but I was too ashamed to ever do it again ... until I didn't have a bedtime. ;) I confess to not hearing my children calling me because I'm lost in the 18th century somewhere with a woman desparately in love, but without a hope of getting his attention! Oh, and I've done the reading at night in the car thing too. And on long road trips, when I was supposed to get OUT of the car for a break, but just couldn't put the book down. But, what's a girl to do with a good book in her grip? :)
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda, yes...caught under the covers with a book, or refusing to get out of the car at a pit stop!
ReplyDeleteI can just see you guilty of both. xx