I owe it to my parents, my mémère, the librarians, and the awesome teachers in my life for aiding and abetting my love for reading. I know of oh to many people who do not find enjoyment in books, and to quote the good old Jane Austen: “the person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not the pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid” (Don’t shoot the messenger!).

At end of elementary/beginning of middle school, I started to develop a personal taste in books. Before I was just reading the books around the house, the one’s I got as gifts, or the one’s my mom helped me pick out at the library. Maybe it was because I got older – or maybe it was because I was now allowed to go to the scholastic book fair with no supervision – but I find that the late elementary, early middle school years are when I truly threw myself into reading. Yes, my summer reading list from second grade with 205 books on it might beg to differ. But whatever. I think this is where it all got really serious.

It took a lot of people, and a lot of books to get to that moment though. My mom, was ever so adamant on bringing me to the public library and maxing out our cards. She encouraged and still does encourage me to read and buy books – even the bank-breaking expensive Chiltern Classic editions. She is, however, not supportive of my ever growing collection of Frankenstein editions. So much so that I have foregone sharing with her the prices I’ve been spending on my latest collector hauls – but that’s a story for another post.

My dad, who is a big reader himself, has been supportive of my blog and has been someone who I can talk about and share books with. He does not judge me for my Frankenstein pile yet, but perhaps once he finally reads it he can become a fanatic collector too.

My mémère, who was an elementary school teacher was always encouraging me to read as well. Her visits typically included a highly sought after horse book (in French!) and she always helped me do my reading homework in elementary school. I don’t remember much of my childhood, but sitting at the table reading with mémère was always fun even though it was homework. My mémère was also a huge advocate for education and I think her passion may have spread to me.

Throughout the years, I have also become well acquainted with teachers and professors that value reading and education just the same as I do. I find the conversations I have with them riveting and the semester-long email chains of back-and-forth book recommendations the absolute best. It’s kinda weird to be emailing your prof. throughout summer break, but until I can find another like-minded person my age I guess this will have to do. The Librarians at Bibliothèque Dr. Marguerite Michaud who always chatted with me even at my worst, and knew my name even when I did not know theirs were seriously the read OGs. I will never forget them. When times were tough at school (aka I got a B and was being melodramatic (but in all seriousness academic anxiety is a thing)) I would go down to the library during lunch break and sit in the quiet or talk with the gals. During my most tumultuous years when my relationship to food was at its worst, the library was always my refuge amidst the chaos and hellscape that was the cafeteria and carefour- and the people in those areas (Most were the folks Jane Austen was talking about in that quote).

I also owe my late pets, North, Fracas, Cutie Q as well as the currently living Forrest and Little Grey. North was a great listener when I read stories to him (please see image below). Fracas and Cutie Q were very cuddly and always sat in my lap when I was reading as Forrest and Little Grey do now. Reading with a cat purring on your lap is absolutely unmatched.

Lastly, my siblings. The eldest for not noticing when I stole The Hunger Games box set she got for Christmas, or The Maze Runner box set, or her copy of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Which I all never gave back by the way. Sorry. She also likes the weird the same weird obscure existential literary fiction as me so she’s nice to keep around even though she is the slowest reader ever. My younger brother and sister dealt with years of my basement classroom simulation and living room library (they never got to be the librarian or the teacher). Perhaps this is where I became bossy, who knows? But reading with them was really fun. I’ve read this one pop-up book on cars to my brother as a child so many times that I still remember the first page.

Anywho, I firmly believe that all of the books I have read in my life have left a lasting impact on me. Not only was I the one who gave “good advice” to the friend group in high school, I think I have gained critical thinking skills and a better understanding of the world and the people around be because I’ve lived all these different experiences. Yes, even the kabilllion Saddle Club books evoked something in me in just the same way that Wintergirls has. Looking back at the books I’ve read brings back memories of who I was and what I was interested in at that time in my life. Hence, I have made a list (or course) of all the books I can ever remember reading in my life – since I quite literally owe them my life. I would not be who I am without these boys so I should not forget them. This is also just a list for me when I’m 80 years old and the memory is fading but I just can’t remember that one book I read senior year of high school that changed the course of my life. Hyperlinks will lead to reviews I’ve already posted and I may also leave some comments in the title section on why this book has resonated with me. Have a peek, if there’s anything on here that World Wide Web users have read and would like to discuss, let’s make it happen. You know where to find me. My inbox is forever open to anything and everything Mary Shelley related.

Last updated: 16 July 2023