I don’t remember as a child, teenager, young adult, or even a mature adult working full time reading books constantly. I guess I had other things going on. I mean, I did read, but not for my enjoyment.
I was talking to my dad about books and he told me this story about himself, which is published in his unpublished memoirs:
As a teen, I visited the main library in Newark often and browsed through the shelves and catalogs. Real shelves on different levels, scouring the shelves was an adventure all of its own. Later, trips to a bookstore became a highlight of my day, especially after a trip to see Bobi and George in lower Manhattan. Brentano’s and other bookstores in the city on the way back to the Holland Tunnel were frequent stops for Iris and me.
My parents didn’t get beyond the eighth grade in school but were also big readers. One might think that as working-class people my parents wouldn’t be able to afford to buy too many books. True, but they had a source.
Uncle Bill was our family’s book supplier. Once or twice a month either he would visit us, we would go to his apartment in the Bronx’s or we might meet him at my Grandmother’s apartment. A shopping bag or two would change hands, from Bill to my father.
Everybody needs a source. Uncle Bill worked as a porter for the NYC Subway system. He cleaned trains at the end of the day. He would throw trash out but keep the discarded books. I can visualize him lugging bags of books after work and stashing them in his apartment until the appropriate hand-off was arranged.
These bags were filled with paperback books. My father would grab his mysteries, my mother would locate her favorites and I would get my fix with Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Poul Anderson or some unknown writer, it didn’t matter. In the days of black and white TV, with only a few channels, these books provided me entertainment without parallel.
I started getting these books when I was around ten or eleven years old and the handoff continued until I was close to thirty years old. The most appreciated books came during my year in Thailand. Regularly a shoe box, wrapped and taped tightly, would arrive with books.
My love for bookstores continues to this day.
But, a few years ago, I started reading for my enjoyment. I have been keeping track of the books I read on Goodreads since 2020, but since 2023, I have been writing reviews and sharing them on Goodreads, Amazon, and several Facebook pages. I do have a list on Goodreads that I want to read.
I am a member of Netgalley, and I have had the pleasure of reading and reviewing books that haven’t been officially published.
My preferred genre of books is autobiographies/biographies of celebrities, musicians, and athletes. I do like fiction books as it gives me a nice break from reality.