This week’s Booking Through Thursday prompt asks
- What do you think of reading aloud/being read to? Does it bring back memories of your childhood? Your children’s childhood?
- Does this affect the way you feel about audio books?
- Do you now have times when you read aloud or are read to?
I have always loved being read aloud to. I contest the notion that being read to is something that should be associated with childhood alone. I love reading to others, and I love hearing others read, particularly wonderful readers like Neil Gaiman or Jim Dale. I suppose that is one reason I do like audio books. Sometimes books are even better when they’re read aloud by an excellent reader. I read to my children, too, and I sometimes read to my students. My husband and I sometimes read each other excerpts of whatever it is we’re reading at the moment. He has a very interesting cadence in his voice when he reads that is simply not there when he is just speaking. I sometimes wish I were a better reader: I have trouble with different voices and the like. Reading the Harry Potter books to my daughters formed some of my happiest memories. If you want to hear a great reader in action, head over to Neil Gaiman’s website for his children’s books and listen to [amazon_link id=”0062081551″ target=”_blank” ]The Graveyard Book[/amazon_link].
photo credit: Michael Casey
Aw, I love reading out loud and being read to. My earliest memories are my mother reading me and my sisters the Chronicles of Narnia. I would totally sit on the bed and let my mother read to me now. :p
I don't think my mother read to me much after I learned how to read for myself, but my teachers read to us. I remember listening to The Boxcar Children, Superfudge, and Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
Because of how poorly I read out loud, I always avoided audio books. But I finally tried them and realized that, with a talented and appropriate reader, they can actually elevate a book.
I didn't used to listen to them much because they are so expensive, but I joined Audible and can get one free audio book a month for about the cost of a paperback. Not too shabby! Sometimes I am disappointed by the selections, but they usually have great stuff.
I have told my children that when I retire, I want to do two things: volunteer either at a library or at an elementary school just to read books to children and become one of the people who reads books aloud for audio books. There may not be as big a market for the kids audio books, but I'd feel most comfortable doing them. (And I think I'm pretty good too!) I have loved reading to my children; our favorites include any of the Skippyjon Jones books and the Olivia books. I enjoy reading certain selections to my classes, too. I don't remember my parents reading to me–maybe because I don't remember a time when I wasn't reading on my own–but I do remember two teachers who did. My fourth grade teacher was spectacular at reading Brer Rabbit stories and doing the voices, and my fifth grade teacher read A Wrinkle in Time to us.
I still remember how my third grade teacher made Sheila Tubman all nasal-y sounding. She was perfect. I still like to read to my children. Even the teenager when she lets me.