Aunt Emma's and Aunt Fay's Books

The other day my husband and I got in a conversation about the importance of books in children's lives. Part of this reflection led to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library which donates a book monthly to all children who sign up until they enter first grade. While I don't know what motivated her to choose this particular charity, I can't help but believe that it is related to her experiences as a child of Appalachia (Sevierville, TN). She came from a large poor family that struggled to survive during her growing up years. I think she graduated from high school, but by that time she had already started her singing career. To me she is a heroine because I, too, knew a similar world of mountains, ignorance, struggle and, to some degree, a disrespect for education. What I see in her charity is the idea that exposure to different worlds through books can drastically impact how you see and interact with the real world. It certainly did for me.

While I had 18 aunts and uncles several of which I interacted with daily and a family that had more education than Dolly's, I know the impact of social ignorance and poor education. The major influence to my isolation and ignorance was through books also; books that were given me by Aunt Emma and Aunt Fay. Aunt Emma lived about 85 miles from me and was a kindergarten teacher until her own children arrived. Aunt Fay had no children and lived 7 miles from me. Both were frequent visitors to our house. Both seemed to take a special interest in me and my life. They filled in the spaces of parenting that Mama and Daddy could not; the spaces of ignorance about a larger world and its people. Aunt Fay shopped for me, tried new recipes with me, and simply took the time to talk to me. Aunt Emma also talked to me, but she asked more questions and both of them really listened to the answers I gave. I remember them laughing long lengths of time to something I said or one of my answers. One of Aunt Emma's best gifts to me was 10 books that she was given when her school purchased new books. I got some of the old ones and was encouraged to read them. These books were very age appropriate and easily captured my third grade interests. We talked about them after I read them. This made me want to read more books.

I should tell you that I was not a book worm in spite of Aunt Emma's and Aunt Fay's encouragement because Mama who read very little had other things she had to teach me about farming, cooking and canning. I rarely went searching for a new book to read, but when one was given to me I felt obligated to read it because Mama said it was a gift and gifts should "always be appreciated by using them no matter what they was." In high school I worked during study hall with Aunt Fay, the school librarian, as a 'library assistant'. This introduced me to more books which I mostly shelved and heard others talk about. The only book I ever remember wanting to read was "Lady Chatterley's Lover" but I knew I'd never stand a chance at getting my hands on this one because Aunt Fay protected it with her life. However, during my senior year I managed to sneak it out of the library for the summer. NOW THAT WAS A BOOK! I still don't know if she ever knew I had it, but if she did she never said a word and I haven't got up the nerve yet to ask her.

Sometimes I often wonder how on earth I became a college professor when I had so little experience with books and reading. Both my ACT and SAT scores showed me that I didn't know very much because I had not read all the things college bound kids should read. I didn't know what a classic was and didn't care to know, but somehow by the time I finished college I had learned what conversations to avoid and which brainy people I could and could not tolerate. I still managed to graduate Magna Cum Laude and knew the stuff I was interested in quite well.

Now some fifty years later I understand the role books played in taking me to new worlds. Had these two aunts not been intimately involved in my life by exposing me to books I'm sure that I would not be a reader at all or at least only a reader of sensational books like "Lady Chatterley's Lover". Oh, did I mention I am currently reading "Fifty Shades of Grey"?