Borrowing Books Now Birthday Gifts

As a kid Mom had been the parent who was "the reader". She'd go to the library & borrow books all. the. time. The books she'd read weren't always educational, non-fiction pieces; maybe some cookbooks, though I most remember various fiction novels. That's alright; that's her style.

She'd be real good at keeping up with them; she read super quickly. (Definitely the opposite of me, still to this day! 😒) I specifically remember this book, the first book I read, which she'd also read. (Just before me, though she'd returned it & I'd then borrowed it under my name. 😊) I truly enjoyed it & felt like I'd actually read it more quickly, though I doubt I actually did. I began doing something of a book discussion with Mom, only to learn that she'd not technically read the whole book. The beginning had an extensive, informative introduction & there'd been a section after the last chapter where her children had...well, maybe they were commentaries. Mom hadn't read either portion, which is in what I'd begun engaging her...to no avail.😑

Mom had also been the one who'd made the best use of our local library being, well, so local. We kids could easily ride our bikes (easily, because the distance was short, though there wasn't a route to take that wasn't a reasonable uphill), & we did ride them as well as walk to the library quite often. Mom would drive the short distance, &, as time wore on & online book renewal became possible, she made good of that too. She was a pro at going onto the website & renewing those items which she & Dad had borrowed. She explained that she'd monitor the one or two books Dad had on his bedside nightstand for when they'd be due back whenever she'd follow up on her own nightstand's short stack. She knew their library card numbers by heart, or at least had made a desktop side note, & would only need to concern herself if there'd been a hold placed on a item she or Dad had at the house, which then meant it'd have to be returned to the library.

So this was our childhood ... & our adolescence ...

*****

Now Dad's become more of the book reader of their house. If I remember correctly, I believe his being retired had enough to do with that. Mom's still reading books, though she's apparently elected to prioritize quite a few other projects [read: hobbies]. So, alas, it's Dad's library book stash piled next to "his chair" in their finished basement, which maintains & grows as he procures more.

For some reason I felt that re-enacting, if it can even be called that, something of a library system between Dad & I, might be kind of fun. So I set about it as his birthday gift. My theory was that I'd find a book, or books, which I felt he'd be intrigued by & interested in reading, as well, that is, as well I might be. This way we'd "share" the book. Then he'd keep it once I'd read it as I'd be gifting it to him. (I prefer to "neatly" read a book, so the binding would be as in tact as store bought; the book having a "used" appearance wouldn't be a problem.)

The first book I came across to think to try is this book. I'm very interested in finishing it, though I've not yet made the time to do so. I'm a few (very exciting! 😁) chapters in at this point & many things I'd just never thought to think, or even to consider, I've found to be very enlightening.

It's an "historical book" & that is a subject which I know to fascinate Dad. Which is why I looked to the subject in the first place. At the same time I felt as though the story read a bit too off an angle he'd take to (he'd enjoy it, though I knew I could do better), & therefore I put it aside in order to search for others which I'd find more applicable to him & his personality.

🕮 This birthday present project idea is still in progress.😔📚


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