#Microblog Mondays 113: Reading Aloud
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The twins and I still read aloud every night. Once upon a time, I worried that they would outgrow it, but we still like to sit down together at 8:30 pm. I read aloud a chapter and we discuss it in real time, even though they read books on their own the rest of the day.
We’re currently reading Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One. I didn’t know if they would get into it, so I was holding another book in reserve, but they have been rabid about this story.
It’s interesting. I don’t think it has anything to do with the games or movies listed in the book, though they have certainly played almost all of the games and like a lot of the movies. I think it’s more that the Wolvog relates to Wade. He’ll point out similarities between them. It’s almost as if, by reading the story, he’s understanding himself.
Have you ever found yourself in a story or related to a character in such a way that you understood yourself better?
Mine? Arthur Dent. I often feel like a female Arthur Dent.
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22 comments
That’s an interesting question. Can’t think of any. But if you had asked about a song I would’ve said Georgie Girl (in my younger days).
Actually yes, I found a lot of similarity between Vianne (from The Nightingale) and myself ..And also some with Scarlett O’Hara 🙂
Rather Dent! I love that Book! Someday soon I feel like Marvin the Paranoid Android!
I am reading ‘The Ship That Flew’ to my grandaughters aged 9 and 5. Rosie is the I age I was when my father gave me the book, and I was afraid they would find it a bit dated. Rosie enjoys it, it frees up her imagination, and she likes the old-fashioned feel to it.
Abigail chooses something else …
I WROTE ARTHUR! Blooming autocorrect!
I’ve written about this before on my blog, but I read Joyce Maynard’s memoir “Looking Back” when I was 11 (and re-read many times over the years) and felt such a shock of recognition. Here was someone who, although several years older than me, was writing about things I could relate to — loving the Beatles, being slightly afraid of the Rolling Stones, hating phys ed class (oh, how I loved reading about that — “it’s not just me!!”). She has taken a lot of flack over the years for her personal, introspective style of writing (and of course her relationship with J.D. Salinger). I think she was ahead of her time and if she’d started in the mid-2000s instead of the early 1970s, she would have been a blogger. 😉
I really love memoirs and I think a big part of that is that there is always something to relate to. Right now I am reading a David Sedaris book and although we have almost nothing in common he writes a lot about his relationships with his parents and siblings and there’s always something to relate to there. Arthur Dent! That cracked me up. I feel like him at times too but had never thought of it. I am sitting here in my PJ bottoms that I drove my daughter to school in …
The first thought that comes to my mind is Nancy Drew! I was 10 when I started reading the whole series and loved everything about her and how she was. I remember asking my mother what color “titian” hair was, and my hair ended up being that color as I got older.
Different books at different times, definitely.
For me it’s a fantasy novel called The Curse of Chalion. I relate strongly to the main character, a fellow named Cazaril. We are very similar people, for all that I’ve never been a knight, nor a castle-warder, nor attached to a royal household as a servant.
Great question. I’m thinking Emma! 😉
Absolutely, though I need to spend some time digging through my collection of books to write more about this.
On an aside, a very cherished time was when my dad use to read to me at night (I was in 3rd grade). We got through a lot of series and I enjoyed the one-on-one time. I don’t know why it ended (adolescents maybe?) but it is something I still treasure. Thank you for that reminder
I can’t think of any off the top of my head but I love when a book can take you to another place in your brain, open up thoughts and ideas that you didn’t have before. It’s an awesome feeling.
i like the fact they read aloud. I could never do that. I didn’t like that as a kid or do I like now. But I read aloud to my baby!
In my younger days, I felt like Harriet the Spy. And sometimes Hermione Granger. N. is also reading on her own already, and doesn’t want me to read to her any more, which is sad for me … but last night, she finally agreed to let me give it a shot. We started Stuart Little. 🙂
That’s an interesting question. Can’t really find anyone I can relate to, that way. Coming to the idea of reading aloud, well, it sure sounds like a wonderful thing to do with the kids. I loved it as a child and now enjoy with my son who loves to read on his own too.
Oh my gosh, I’m a huge reader. Huge. There is no way I could answer this question without spending time, a lot of time, thinking about it. I CAN say, my dear baby is loving books right now. Mostly to chew on, but she’s also been into turning pages by herself. So I take that as a good sign.
Not able to say offhand, but yes there have been.
That’s so cool that he is understanding himself better through the book – self-understanding seems especially difficult around the twins’ age. And I’m glad you guys are carrying on your reading tradition. I still like being read to, tbh. That’s probably why I find audiobooks and podcasts relaxing.
Oh, how wonderful! I love reading aloud, and discussing, and look forward to that aspect of parenting so much. And Ready Player One! I loved that book! I love that the Wolvog sees himself in Wade and can identify in that way to a character. I really love June in Carol Rifka Brunt’s Tell The Wolves I’m Home. She’s kind of a fish-out-of-water, growing up where I did when I did, and she doesn’t always make the best decisions. That book touched me deeply because I saw myself in it. Oh man, I hope we have a kid who loves to read. I mean, we’ll make it pretty hard not to, but I worry about the fact that I have fewer and fewer students each year who are readers, real recreational readers. You’re doing such an amazing thing with the twins!
PS – I am embarrassed to say I don’t know who Arthur Dent is…
I miss reading to the kidlets. In fact, I remember the last book we read – it was the first Harry Potter book, and we only made it about halfway through. Circumstances (a move, then health issues) got us out of the habit, and we just never picked it up. Maybe I should ask the three (16, 19, 21) if we should give it a go again. 😀
And yes, while I can’t pick a certain character out of my brain at the moment, there have been many, many, MCs who’ve resonated with me.
Good question! Really cool that you and your kids read aloud together. I had a middle school teacher that would read aloud to us from time to time. It was very relaxing. For me, the character that popped into my mind is Anne of Green Gables.
Meg Murray (Wrinkle in Time ) changed my life. Suddenly it was okay to be smarter than some teachers.
I’ve been wondering this question all week. I can think of characters who I wished I were more like and ones that I’ve hoped that I would NEVER be compared to but I’m not sure if I’ve seen myself in one in just the way you’ve described.