I was allowed to read anything when I was growing up. I want you to know that. I read Stephen King books when I was in third grade, “The Exorcist” in fourth. I read everything I could get my hands on and a big deal was getting to go to Waldenbooks at Old Hickory Mall in Jackson, where we were never denied a book to read. The library was my friend, but they rarely had horror novels (I really don’t know why), but you could occasionally find Ray Bradberry or Isaac Asimov. Best day ever at the Weakley County Library was finding “I Am Legend” by Richard Matheson.

When I got a little older, I went through author phases. Probably the most significant one for me was John Irving, whom I read nonstop while I spent nine months in Europe. It seemed that his books just fit my time there. Reading the words on the pages allowed my mother to explain things to me when I asked questions about issues or dialogue I didn’t understand. She did it in her own way, guiding me from the early years of school to adolescence and into adulthood. It was a bonding item for us. She loved horror novels as much as I did, although I could never find her passion for historical fiction.

It worked. The books we read created lively conversations. It was about family and creativity and imagination and living through the written word. And it was the discussions that inspired that made most any book a part of our family.

Lora wrote today about her love of books and directed her readers to the Banned Books Week website. To be honest, I knew it was going on, but, as Lora makes me want to learn repeatedly and all the time, I headed over to the Banned Books Week link. I went there and rooted around, wondering what made the list this year, and I think you guys may want to know that even at 50+ years, “To Kill A Mockingbird” is still on the top ten.

I’m a Southerner folks, and “To Kill A Mockingbird” is still one of my favorite books. It really is exquisite and painful, and I honestly can’t imagine it not being in this world.

You see, I come from a world where books were encouraged. My parents just wanted us to read. They wanted us to read everything, because it opened up the world.

My motto is encourage, don’t deny. It always has been a way that I believe in thanks to my parents.