Posted on March 4, 2011 - by Linda Fulkerson
Adventures in Reading
I’ve always loved a good adventure story. And my favorite of favorites book is The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain. I know we’re discussing memories of books from childhood, but I must confess that I still read this book every couple of years. No matter what your genre preference is, this book has it all — adventure, romance, suspense, mystery, religion, politics, family relationships, and a good dose of Twain’s humor.
I remember the puzzled look on my 6th-grade teacher’s face when the time arrived for our first book report, and, while nearly every kid in the classroom was fighting the librarian to check out the shortest books on the list, I picked The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
The teacher explained to me that it was a long book and asked wouldn’t I rather pick a different one, a shorter one perhaps. I said, “I know how long it is. I’ve already read it twice.”
She seemed shocked that someone so young would relish reading so many pages. But who can resist Mark Twain? Anyone who can take something so ordinary as a pair of glasses and describe them in a way that defines the character whose face upon which they reside is a master. Here’s an excerpt from the opening page, when Aunt Polly is looking for Tom:
The old lady pulled her spectacles down and looked over them about the room; then she put them up and looked under them. She seldom or never looked THROUGH them for so small a thing as a boy; they were her state pair, the pride of her heart, and were built for “style,” not service — she could have seen through a pair of stove-lids just as well.
My daughter bought me an early edition copy of the book. It’s not the first run, but it was printed over 100 years ago. My kids and I have taken turns reading it to each other throughout the years. I think it’s time to read it again.
When I’m writing a descriptive passage about a character, I try to delve beyond the obvious — red hair, freckles, or other easy-to-spot feature — and find some object they possess, use, or even cherish, and describe the object in a way that gives the reader a bit of insight into the character’s character. Thanks, Mark Twain, for teaching writers that trick!
Can you think of a specific writing technique you’ve learned and used that stemmed from one of your favorite authors?
Maybe you discovered your favorite book during your childhood days, maybe not, but what book (other than the Bible) do you re-read over and over again without tiring because the story is so compelling or well-written?
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March 4, 2011
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Dawn Ford said:
I loved Tom Sawyer! I read him in H.S. though. I wasn’t nearly as brave as you so early in life to take on this book. Other than the children’s books, I don’t know that I have re-read books like you do Tom Sawyer. It’s neat that you have the early copy.
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March 4, 2011
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Lorna said:
I have to admit a fondness of the “Adventerues of Huckleberry Finn,” but I haven’t re-read it over and over.
I read all the Hardy Boys books (or most of them). Yes, you read that right. Hardy Boys–not Nancy Drew. Anyway, I learned from those books the importance of ending chapters on a hook.
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March 4, 2011
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Regina Merrick said:
Besides the “Little House” books which have been re-read AND re-read, my favorite re-read was always “Little Women.” From the March sisters and Marmee, I learned that bad things happen to good people, but you go on, and you have fun together through thick and thin. Such is life. Honestly, I haven’t read Tom Sawyer, but I have read Huckleberry Finn a few times, and have watched all the movie-versions enough to know the story fairly well!
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March 4, 2011
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Kav said:
I read Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Dana Sisters, Bobbsey Twins, Famous Five….my childhood was rfie with mystery.
I read Anne of Green Gables (the whole series) every couple of years. I still cry buckets when Matthew dies. (Hope I didn’t spoil that for anyone).
And oddly enough, I read ol’ Trix now and again. Gleeps, but that’s kind of embarrassing to admit except there seems to be a lot of people who do the same thing so I’m in good company.
And then every so often I get a hankering to re-read Tamora Pierce’s series. She writes YA fantasy with strong female characters, dastardly villians and a spattering of talking animals.
And periodically I need to have a Curious George fix…but shhhhh, that’s a secret. I kind of had a crush on the Man with the Yellow Hat when I was four.
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March 4, 2011
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Linda Fulkerson said:
@Dawn – Tom Sawyer is the only book I’ve re-read, I think! My daughter has read Pride & Prejudice multiple times.
@Lorna – I always liked the Hardy Boys better than Nancy Drew.
I also love Huck Finn and have read it several times. It’s been a while, though.
@Regina – I almost fell out of my chair when I read your comment. Seriously? You’ve never read it? Seeing the movie versions doesn’t count. It’s the way Twain narrates it that I love so much.
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March 4, 2011
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Dawn Ford said:
I take it back. There is one book I have read and re-read (under the guise of reading to my sons and childcare kids) and that is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. More adventurism. I dreamed of going to a factory where one room is filled with an edible forest.
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March 4, 2011
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Linda Fulkerson said:
Kav – I loved the Trixie Beldon books!
Since you brought up Curious George, I’ll let y’all in on a secret. Another book I love to re-read is Harold and the Purple Crayon. About a year ago, before the Nashville flood destroyed the Opry Mills Mall, I was there with my kids & some of their friends, and one of them had never heard of Harold. Gasp! I found it on the Barnes & Noble shelf and they sat on the floor around me while I read it to them. Some passersby with children stopped to listen, too. Some books you just never outgrow.
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March 4, 2011
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Linda Fulkerson said:
@Dawn – I love books that make you dream big!
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March 4, 2011
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Brenda Anderson said:
I love Harold and the Purple Crayon, & Curious George, & Trixie Belden. My kids couldn’t get enough of Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman. I think I still know it by heart.
Let’s see, I’ve read the Lord of the Rings series a couple of times. Jane Eyre too. It’s been years since I’ve read Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn. I really need to put some classics back on my TBR list again.
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March 4, 2011
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Linda Fulkerson said:
Brenda – I’m glad I’m not the only Harold fan here! And it sounds like all of us have read the Trixie Beldon books! They were such fun reads. Don’t know what happened to mine. Mom probably passed them on to someone else when I got older.
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March 5, 2011
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Kim said:
Bet you guys will never guess which book I’ve read over and over and over again? Get ready. Hold on to your hats. It’s….To Kill A Mockingbird.
There’s just something about the way Harper Lee describes Macomb as a tired, old town. And the way she describes the family reunion type atmosphere of court days. And how she explains the evils in this world. All while keeping Scout sounding like a six year old little girl.
“Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passin’.”
“Hey, Boo.”
And that’s just two of the quotes that still bring tears to my eyes when I read them.
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March 5, 2011
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Linda Fulkerson said:
Don’t hit me, Kim, but even though I chastised Regina for not reading Tom Sawyer, I must confess that I have *gasp* never read To Kill a Mockingbird. I’m going to go download it onto my Kindle right now!
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March 5, 2011
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Linda Fulkerson said:
I don’t find it for Kindle! I’m surprised. I think my daughter has a hard copy, though. She’s read it a few times.