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

1. Laura’s Literary Journey:A lifetime of reading & books Laura Alger LSIS 5525 Spring 2013 – Dr. Edna Cogdell Assignment 4 “Literary Heritage Autobiography”

2. 1972: The beginning of my life as a reader Born: 1972 @ Aitkin, Minnesota a rural village; lived in a ranch home on 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 tothe public library “in town” for story times. )

3. My family roots: view from dock and family farmland and property

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

5. 1977: family moved to Ohio • 1977-1982: Attended Carlisle & Smith Elementary School in Delaware, Ohio.

6. 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 Blumebook. • 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

7. 1983-1986: My middle school years @ Willis Jr. High… Go Panthers!

8. 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.

9. 1986-1990:My family relocated to Raleigh, NC and attended Sanderson High School

10. 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.

11. 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!??

12. 1st time in Graduate School:Masters of Speech-Language Pathology • More drowning in textbooks…..

13. 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 manyof the books on the Oprah’s book list.

14. 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.

15. 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 Tree House books with child, -reading my Book Club Books. *however this is the first reading that is being neglected while in grad school

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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…

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. Resources • Images from google.com