27 AprReading As a Family Activity

There are a million amazing things in this world (maybe more), but one of the most amazing things in my book is reading (pun intended). Think of it—little lines, squiggles, and dots on a paper turn into meanings and images that change destinies and the world. People have been led to despair and suicide by how they read the squiggles on a page. Others have been inspired to greatness. How can lines and squiggles have so much power? In the words of Tevya from Fiddler on the Roof, “Let me tell you! I don’t know.” I do know I open a book and the markings there create images, generate feelings, and inspire thoughts that I have never had before. It is absolutely amazing.

I became addicted to reading at a very young age. My addiction continues as an adult. I am so addicted that it is contagious and I have spread it to my children. I taught each of my children to read. I had some reading at five-years-old. Others weren’t comfortable alone with a book until they were seven; but they all got there. I take a considerable amount of satisfaction in having taught them to read. Now I have sons in college reading linguistical studies, difficult novels, and textbooks on communications. I caused that. Me. It makes me giddy to think of it. Don’t misinterpret my giddiness as arrogance. No, it is simply joy at having been part of one good thing in my children’s lives.

I started reading to my children before they could read. Once they could read for themselves I kept reading to them anyway. One of my cherished memories is sitting in the living room with my entire family reading the Abhorsen Trilogy, the Harry Potter series, Saffy’s Angel, and so many others. Most of these books captured my family’s attention so completely that they would beg me to read another chapter after I had finished the night’s reading quota. It took all my will to say no to them. I always enjoyed reading the book to the family so much that I didn’t want to rush to the end.  I was happy if it took two weeks to get through a book.

My family watches a lot of movies together. While that can be a good thing, I’ve found that reading books together is a great thing. While watching a movie we all stare slack-jawed at the TV screen. We don’t communicate with each other except to say, “Be quiet. I can’t hear.” When I read a book out loud each family member has an attentive, even lively, expression on his or her face. The words they hear combine with their imagination to create a scene in their minds. Watching this happen is one of the more beautiful events on this Earth. I have no problem stopping reading when one family member or another wants to comment on what is happening. There is no shushing while reading a book together.

Currently I am reading The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm to two of my children.  On their faces I see them imagining the ancient trash heap of Dead Man’s Vlei, the She Elephant as she comes charging out of the vlei to capture the children, the Mellower who has been treed by the police. When  I sit down with my children each night to read this book I feel the same pleasure as taking a hot bath on a cold day. I want the book to last for weeks. It will come to an end sooner or later. That’s okay. One thing the world has enough of is good books.