Let's Talk with Terry Ambrose
April 8, 2021
Let’s Talk with Terry Ambrose
National Library Week
by Terry Ambrose
Did you know that this is National Library Week? That’s right! Those places with thousands of books and magazines and computers and… I love libraries and my connection to them goes back many years.
I got an early start with libraries because my mother was a librarian in her younger days. Perhaps that’s why I always felt so at home when walking through the stacks.
One of my all-time favorite libraries is the one in Santa Barbara. I haven’t been there in years, but I hope it’s as elegant and beautiful as it was when I lived there.
My mom loved books and believed reading to a child was one of the best things a parent could do to help instill them with curiosity. When my wife and I met, my mom told us about the hours and hours she spent reading to me. Unfortunately, I am one of those people who remembers very little about their childhood. Meaning, you guessed it, I don’t remember those reading sessions. The thing is, even though I don’t remember the specific stories or days or times, I carry with me that love of books and reading and writing. My current Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery Series (and all my other series) came about through this deeply-seated love of books.
So, even though I’m an ingrate and don’t remember you reading to me, thanks, Mom, for all those hours you spent trying to improve my life.
What about you? Is there someone you’d like to dedicate a thank you to because they inspired you to read? And, in honor of National Library Week, what’s your favorite library?
While you’re here, enter our Booklover’s Bench contest. It runs from April 1-18. We’re collecting entries for a book giveaway from our vault by one of our Booklover’s Bench authors. Click here to enter!
Posted in Let's Talk, with Terry Ambrose • Tags: BLB Discussion, Let's Talk, National Library Week, Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery, Terry Ambrose | 7 Comments
Like you, I don’t remember anyone reading to me. And I am the youngest of 9, some of my oldest sisters swear they read to me frequently. But I do remember my love of books from a very young age. And I loved my public library – I own a section of it’s card catalog that was removed when they converted to the computerized version. And best of all, I work in a public library!
Hey Renee, it’s kind of strange how we can have those feelings, but not remember the reason we developed them. I do think it’s very cool that you own a part of the old catalog! And thank you for working in a library!
I don’t remember either of my parents reading to me, but I certainly remember the weekly trips to the library to check out the maximum number of books I was allowed. I also remember reading the Sunday comics on the floor before I went to kindergarten. It’s strange what we remember, but I’ve always been a reader.
Sunday comics…hmmm…I probably got to read those, but have no memory of it!
I have a feeling my sisters read to me. My mom was busy busy busy with 5 kids and so was my dad. However, the grownups of my parents’ generation read a LOT. We still have shelves of books from back in the day! Once I learned to read, there was no stopping this armchair traveler.
I remember talking to my father about books we had both read. I got my love of adventure fiction from him. He had his favorite armchair where he’d sit and read. Re libraries, I am fond of the Helen B. Hoffman city library in Plantation. I’d belonged to the Friends and they had monthly meetings with interesting speakers. Unfortunately, that ended with Covid and now we’ve moved away. I’ll have to get to know the libraries around here but to my knowledge, they’re all part of the county system.
My mom always took us to the library so I’m sure she read to us as young kids; however, it’s my dad that I remember. He had this copy of a book called Early Man (the title is self-explanatory) and for some reason he liked to read it to us. No Dick and Jane kiddie books for him. After both my parents passed away I found this book still in my mom’s library and so I grabbed it. And someday I will read it, LOL!