My Reading Journey – Rebecca

December 15, 2025 - By Falan

Then:

I learned to read when I was 4 years old when sitting in the big black Naugahyde vinyl rocking chair with my mom and older sister who was the one who was actually learning to read. I just “got it”. I was all about reading Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss and A Fly Went By by Mike McClintock repeatedly. My mom is from Germany and at night she would read Grimm’s Fairytales. I complained about having nightmares all the time because the stories were so scary. She told me that kids needed scary stories to teach them lessons and scare them into being good. Thanks for scaring me into obedience mom! I still love slightly scary kids’ books that teach a lesson.

When we moved to Anaheim Hills, CA when I was five, I ran around the hills building forts, playing Little House on the Prairie and got lost in adventure stories as I went through elementary school. My grandpa brought me illustrated copies of The Wizard of Oz and Pinocchio. I loved them! My two favorites were island survival stories called, Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry and Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. The common thread running throughout all these stories were, they were about kids trying to survive. They were about kids off on their own, no parents around, trying to solve problems, make good decisions, and come out better in the end.

Over the years, my family would camp for 3 weeks straight up near Yosemite National Park. My dad read The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and all three books in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The family discussions were engaging, and I fell in love with the songs and poetry of J.R.R. Tolkien sprinkled throughout his books. His work with language was captivating.

In junior high and high school, I continued my love of books that held strong literary value. Macbeth by William Shakespeare was the best thing I had ever read! Could anything be more awful and wonderful at the same time? His use of language and the invention of over 1700 words added to the English language astounded me as a teen. In 10^th grade I read Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe? Could a story be sadder and more inspiring? Wow! All these childhood books shaped me into the reader I am now.

Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss

The Big Honey Hunt by Stan Berenstain

A Fly Went By Mike McClintock

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne

Grimm’s Fairy Tales

Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi

Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien

MacBeth by William Shakespeare

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Now:

My reading horizons have broadened greatly over the years, and I find great joy in reading a wide variety of genres.

Fiction:

Fantasy and Sci-fi are always easy “go-to” reads, but I also really enjoy a fun mystery like the Fox and O’Hare series by Janet Evanovich, or a quick read by the adventure and adjective king, Clive Cussler. His Numa Files books are my favorite. Inca Gold was the first book I had read of his, and I fell in love. All his books are quick, ridiculous, and full of adventure, and right up my alley. I’ll re-read Ender’s Game or Will Wight’s Cradle series again and again. Nothing can beat a solid loner character story finding the value in friends and community. Finally, my favorite Young Adult book is Scythe by Neal Shusterman. The ethical issues he is able to engage the reader with, without being didactic, are so crazy, and a joy to consider.

Nonfiction:

I read a lot of memoirs, but none have been so fun to read as Mel Brooks’ All about Me. What he was able to get away with in his career spoke to his character. He pushed a lot of buttons. The best nonfiction book I have ever read in my entire life is Team of Rivals by Doris Goodwin-Kearnes. The book told the story of President Lincoln and his purposeful placement of leaders around himself. He placed those with profoundly different views from himself around him to sharpen his thinking and bring balance to his cabinet and his leadership of our country. He was a great leader because of those he placed around him. They weren’t all “yes” men. Finally, I’m a space-nut. I love reading books about space exploration, and astronauts, and found Challenger by Adam Higginbotham to hit all the right notes. It was detailed and fascinating and made me wish that I had what it takes to be an astronaut. But, since I don’t, I guess I’ll just have to stick with great reading books and letting my mind soar to greater heights in the next best way.

Happy reading!