Welcome to Arugula Notes, a from-time-to-time musing on reading and books. In this first week of 2024, I send wishes of peace, compassion, health, laughter, and civility. Of course, I also wish you happy opportunities to lose yourself in pages of your choice — be they paper or digital.
Best wishes in the new year, Ilene
Books I read and other stuff
The half-size spiral notebook surfaced recently as I was trying to de-clutter. On the cover, in green snazzy branding, it states: Non-Skid Easel Stenographic Note Book. Eye-tint No. 2000. A Rockwell Barnes Product. On the cover is also handwritten, “Books I Read and Other Stuff.” Inside this notebook, on fragile yellow paper are lists of books I read from 1973 to 1976 (translation: ages 9-12).
I remember most of the titles listed. In fact, many of the books have remained on my shelves all these decades later, including Harriet the Spy [No. 6: 1974 list], From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basel E. Frankweiler [No. 14: 1974-1975 list], and The Phantom Tolbooth [No. 8: 1974-1975 list]. Others I’ve purchased in more recent years to re-read and re-live. These replacements include books such as The Pushcart War [No. 7: 1975-1976 list], Strawberry Girl [No. 7: Summer 1973 list], and The Lord of the Rings trilogy [No. 1: 1975-1976 list; No. 18: 1975-1976 list; No. 4: Summer Vacation 1976 list].
As far as I’m concerned, this notebook captures my childhood better than any diary or photograph ever could (except, perhaps, the above photo of me as a child, which does say it all). I remember where I was when reading quite a few of the listed books and where I acquired the books in the first place. Some books from the Northtown branch of the Chicago Public Library. Quite a few I had ordered from the Scholastic Book Club. Many (The Little House on the Prairie series, for example) from Chicago’s Kroch’s and Brentano’s. I remember moving fluidly between the children section and adult section of the library and bookstore during this time period. Growing up book-by-book.
I would also harvest books from my parents’ and grandparents’ bookshelves where no book was off-limits as long as I could reach it. However, my parents did tell me not to read Jaws, which had recently come out in paperback, and was in our home. Curious reader that I was, I sneaked a peek at the first paragraph and was never the same. Books have power and I have always been squeamish.
Fear of the ocean aside, the bookshelf was my oyster. And it is both poignant and delightful to look through these lists, which include nearly every book by Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary. Quite a few by Chaim Potok. The Borrowers, The World of Pooh, Sara Crewe, and so many other books–both famous and not.
I’m starting a new book list now. It isn’t quite as charming as the childhood one, of course. But with my memory being what it is, if you decide to ask me what I’ve read recently, it will come in handy.
And…just in case you are wondering about the “other stuff” mentioned on the notebook cover. That category includes drafts of thank you notes and letters and a weird little Thanksgiving song I wrote in fourth grade. I do wonder: Why was I drafting letters? Should a fourth grader be worrying about fair copies? But those are questions for another time and place.
What’s on your reading list?
Do you have a favorite childhood book? Anything that you keep close for sentimentality sake? What book is in your to-read stack, awaiting your attention?
Arugula Books 
Thanks so much for this. A bit of your growing up and a jog of my own memory from many years ago.
Phil
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I love this peek at your childhood. You really were a nerdy little girl, as was I, but I didn’t start keeping lists of the books I’ve read until age 20 or so. I had the feeling as a child that I remembered every book I ever read, including the Golden Books, and every person I ever met, which is not so many when you’re under 18. Still, I wish I had started the list earlier.
Guess who?