Reading Joy: My Book Autobiography

 

A few weeks ago, I began reading The Joy of Reading by Donalyn Miller and Teri Lesesne. In the first chapter, readers are encouraged to jot down a timeline of books that have impacted their reading lives. As I jotted down my list on a sticky note, I was taken on a trip down memory lane. 

My earliest memory of true reading joy was during 4th grade. Living in a small rural town, we would travel about 30 miles to the nearest Walmart for grocery shopping. My sister and I would walk straight to the book section, looking for the latest book in our series and knowing that our mom wouldn't say no to a new book! I was avidly reading The Babysitters Club books, and Nikki was into the Sweet Valley Kids series. On the way home in the comfort of the backseat, we would curl up and devour those books, Nikki often finishing hers before we arrived home. I read EVERY book in the BSC series, including the mysteries and super series books. My friends and I would even play Babysitters Club at recess. We'd meet on the rusty merry-go-round... (yes, rusty! Was a tetanus shot a requirement before elementary school?!) ... and we'd jump into character, answering imaginary phone calls and booking each other to babysit pretend children. 

In high school, I was captivated by The Notebook. Nicholas Sparks pulled my heart strings with this story of love, loyalty, and loss. I'll never forget when my junior English teacher, Mrs. Barnett, asked our class to write a book report over the book of our choice. I knew I'd write about The Notebook! My report was paaaaaaaages long. I just loved the book so much, and I wanted her to know just how incredible it was. While I was not happy with my grade and her feedback about me rewriting the story, I was so excited that I had a new author to read! Over the years, I've read everything by Nicholas Sparks.

I hit a reading slump after Izzy was born, and I knew that a series could get me reading again. I jumped on the Twilight bandwagon and into the fantastical world of vampires and werewolves. I was never really into fantasy, but this series really showed me that reading can take you places when you've got a six-month-old baby at home. 

Finding time to read as an adult has been challenging. When I made a new friend who had experience leading a book club, I knew we had to launch one! The first book our club read was The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Through this book club experience, I learned so much about how social connections with books helped me to read and think more deeply about books. Our book club continued, and we added book club discussion questions, themed meals, and tablescapes to our meetings! Kristin Hannah is a favorite author of mine, and I often go back to books by her. I recently read Night Road and Home Front, two excellent books of hers!

Currently, I am reading EVERYTHING by Colleen Hoover. The first book by her that I read was It Ends With Us, and I was pulled in from the beginning. She creates characters who become your friends as you read. One of my book besties recently shared that she has an Atlas "book boyfriend" - a bookmark of a male character from a favorite book. You better believe, I ordered myself one! (This is what book nerds do! LOL! Reach out to @StephsBookTherapy on Instagram and Etsy if you want your own!) In November, the sequel to this book will come out, and I just can't wait. To me, this excitement is what reading is all about. 

As I reflect on my book autobiography, I realize that reading series books and finding specific authors I love is what pulls me in as a reader. Having a social reading life is a big part of reading for me, too. A few years ago, I started using the Goodreads app to set a reading goal and log the books I read. Now, I have friends and family that use it! It's fun to see what others are reading and what they like and don't like in books. 

Let's follow each other on Goodreads - @LoraHodges. Now, I've got to go see what my book boyfriend wants for dinner. Yeah... whatever!

Another Year, Another Book Goal Crushed!

Here are the goals I set for 2021:

• Read 50 books.
• Continue to read more nonfiction.
• Read like a writer. Gather a list of lines I love from the books I love and use these lines to inspire my writing.

Here's what I accomplished:

• I read 66 books.
• About one-third of those books were nonfiction books. 
• When I read using the Kindle app, I highlighted lines that I loved. However, I didn't use the lines to inspire my writing. I mostly highlighted lines that were relatable. 

My Picks for Best Books of 2021

I devoured every fiction book I read by Taylor Jenkins Reid this year; however, Malibu Rising was my favorite! I loved the struggle and perseverance of the main character, Nina. Her journey to finding her true self left me reading "just one more chapter!"

“I don’t think what you’re born into says anything about where you’re headed.”

- Taylor Jenkins Reid, Malibu Rising   

Really, though, every book I read by Taylor Jenkins Reid was a page-turner. If you're looking for a new author. Try her books!

For my nonfiction reading this year, Brene Brown was my go-to author. I had watchedher famous TED talk on vulnerability and read Daring Greatly years ago, but this year, her work hit differently. I couldn't get enough of her research and wisdom. Not only did I read four of her books, but I also listened to her podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead regularly. The book that made the biggest impact on me was The Gifts of Imperfection. 

'There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.' So many of us run around spackling all of the cracks, trying to make everything look just right. This line helps me remember the beauty of the cracks.”  

                     - Brene Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection

This book really helped me to do some self-reflection and look deeper into my purpose. If you're looking to read Brene Brown, I would highly recommend this book as the one to read first... then read all the others! Also, she just released a new book, Atlas of the Heart, and I can't wait to get my hands on it! 

Honorable Mentions

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah is the book that got me through my ten-day COVID isolation in February. This historical fiction book, like everything by Kristin Hannah, was so well-written. This book transported me from the guest bedroom to Texas during the Dust Bowl. It's a definite must-read!

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is my favorite thriller from 2021. This Reese's Book Club pick kept me on the edge of my seat as Hannah and her step-daughter, Bailey, work together to interpret the last words they have from Hannah's husband and Bailey's father before he disappears. 

New Kid was the best audiobook I listened to this year. The full cast of characters brought this story to life! If you're looking for a book to share with a young reader in your life, this is a great pick. The book tackles microaggressions and challenges of entering a new school in a very real way. The non-audio version is a graphic novel which is both appealing and challenging to young readers. I can't wait to read the next book by Jerry Craft, Class Act. 

2022 Book Goals

So which books will I read to kick off 2022? Well, I'm halfway through Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers. As a transplant-Texan, I feel the need to truly understand the history of this incredible state. This is not my typical nonfiction pick; however, Brian Kilmeade sucked me in after the first few chapters. I've found myself googling things like, "weight of a musket ball" and "how long does it take to travel from San Antonio to Washington-on-the-Brazos on horseback". I am truly fascinated. I also started a book called The Year of Less. It's a memoir from Cait Flanders who gave up spending money frivolously for a year. She declutters her apartment and only spends money on essentials. I'm curious to see what I can learn!

Here are my goals for 2022:

• Read 50 books.
• Read the books in my TBR stack. (I think I have about ten books in my nightstand that need to be read!)
• Write one hour each week for pleasure (52 hours for the year). This could be a blog post, story ideas, journaling, etc. 

As I logged in to my Blogger account to write this blog post, I realized this is the first post I've written since I wrote about the books I read in 2021. While I haven't been posting regularly, I have found that writing down my goals and making them public, helps me to achieve those goals. What are your reading goals for 2022? Share them in the comments, write them on a sticky note... just be a book nerd like me and make a goal. Yeah... whatever!

Stay at Home? No prob! Just hand me a book!

"Reading gives us someplace to go when you have to stay where you are."

- Mason Cooley

I've always loved losing myself in a book, but this year, I truly lived by the above quote. From heading to Chicago and D.C. with Michelle Obama in her autobiography, Becoming, to heading back in time to the 1940s in New York City with Vivian in City of Girls, I went places this year. The comfy corner of my couch and favorite yellow throw were my travel companions. My time was not only spent traveling, but it was also spent challenging my thinking. Many of the nonfiction books I read this year challenged my perceptions about racism. I learned so much about how my experiences have shaped my thinking and how that thinking needs to evolve. 

Here were the goals I set for reading in 2020:

• Read 36 books
• Read more nonfiction
• Try at least one audiobook. 

With the help of a global pandemic, I crushed those goals. 

• I read 58 books this year. 
• Out of 58 books, 17 were nonfiction.
• I listened to six audiobooks. 

Here is a list of the books I read in 2020 by genre. 

Clearly, fiction is my favorite genre, specifically thrillers. However, my favorite books from the past year aren't thrillers. American Dirt grabbed me from the get-go and opened my mind to new perspectives about immigration. City of Girls was so beautifully written; I was truly lost in this story. Both books immersed me in the lives of the characters. There is nothing better than making friends with the characters in a book and having that feeling of sorrow when a great book is over. 

Stamped: Racism, Anti-racism, and You helped me to reflect and process the racial justice issues that were moved from the back burner to the front this summer. This book provides the history of racism that isn't found in the books in the classrooms of our schools. It opened my mind to new ways of thinking about my experiences and recognizing how they are different from the experiences of others. Before this book, I thought I knew a lot about racism, but I learned that I was lacking knowledge on racism and anti-racism. Now, I think more about the broken systems that surround us and how I can work to impact change in my community. Because of this book, I read other books that opened my eyes further and placed a spark in my heart. 

There are no tears left in my tear ducts after reading The Art of Racing in the Rain and then watching the dramatic adaptation. Let me know if you need to borrow a dog to snuggle with while reading this novel. 

When I heard that Little Fires Everywhere was being made into a TV series, I knew I had to read the book first. I was so disappointed in the unnecessary additions to the TV series. Be thankful you didn't watch that series with me. I was the person stating, "...but in the book, that didn't happen!" or "What?! No! That's not how it's supposed to go!"

Another favorite fiction book from 2020 is authored by a friend of mine, Chelsea Roe Hooper. When Hopefully, Eventually came out, I excitedly prepared by washing my favorite yellow throw and loading my end table with a hot cup of tea and a plethora of snacks. I knew I would devour it in one day. The characters in Chelsea's debut novel were relatable and addressed real issues of anxiety, foster care, and infidelity. What I loved most about the book is that the five girlfriends in the story made me think about my core group of friends and inspired many texts to my BFF while I was reading.

A highlight of 2020 was a book club a colleague of mine and I started for 5th graders. The club began at school and continued via Zoom when we were all at home for distance learning in the spring. The club was truly an escape from the long days of trying our best to create this new space for learning at home. Three of the five books in the Children's Literature section of my list were read by our book club.

So... how do you follow up a great year of reading? Set new goals and start reading! Here are my goals for 2021:

• Read 50 books.
• Continue to read more nonfiction.
• Read like a writer. Gather a list of lines I love from the books I love and use these lines to inspire my writing.

Now, off to my favorite reading spot with the first book of 2021... I just started The Vanishing Half on audiobook, I'm two chapters into Reading & Writing with English Learners (written by another friend, Valentina Gonzalez), and another book just popped up as available on Overdrive through the Cinco Ranch Library. It's a perfect (reading) storm! Yeah... whatever!

Rescue Dog Saves Family During Meat Shortage!

June's Adoption Day - April 4, 2015

Five years ago, we adopted June. When we saw her in her crate outside of PetSmart, she stole our hearts. Once we heard that she had been adopted and then given back, we knew we had to adopt this Jack Russell mix. She resembled my best-dog-ever Lucy in so many ways, but I quickly realized that she actually had just two of Lucy's traits - she is small and mostly black. The second we brought her home, she bolted from our garage! Greg took off on foot and I jumped in the car with Izzy to chase her down. Twenty minutes later, we captured her. Greg and I looked at each other and had an idea of why she was returned by another family.

As we got to know her better, we realized just how smart June is! She was potty trained, knew how to use the doggy door, and, man, can she play fetch! The Jack Russell in her really shined through! Then, she began digging... digging holes all around our fence line. One evening, we heard a knock on our door. It was the neighbor behind us... June had dug into their yard.

The neighbor said, "I just wanted to let you know that your little Chihuahua is getting into our yard. We have big gaps in our fence, and we're worried that she could get out of our yard."

As I thanked her and sent Greg to Home Depot for some sort of fence fixer-upper, I laughed, "Chihuahua, ha! She has no idea!"

Greg hodge-podged the holes in our fence line, but June continued to get out. Our sweet neighbor across the street rescued June so many times when Greg and I were both gone to work.

Driller & June

We still can't understand why June would want to escape! She's got it made here! Two meals a day, a puppy brother who is the beta to her alpha, a kid sister who "accidentally" drops plenty of food on the floor, and a mom and dad who take her for walks and play fetch with her daily... seriously! What more could a dog ask for!

A few years ago when I was running two to three times each week in the mornings, I returned from a run and headed to the shower before work.

Greg shouted, "Lora! Why did you leave your socks on the bedroom floor?"

I looked down at my feet. Still in my socks, I replied, "Um... I'm wearing my socks... what are you talking about?"

Greg flipped on the bedroom light and looked closer. There was a DEAD RABBIT on our bedroom floor! We both looked right at June. There were no words as Greg grabbed a couple of plastic grocery store bags to pick up the baby bunny.

June! I thought, how could you! 

I looked at Greg, and he said, "It's in her blood... she's a hunter."

Since then, June has killed five six more rabbits. She even killed one and then drowned it in our swimming pool. I cannot make this stuff up. Two days ago, she killed TWO THREE and BROUGHT TWO OF THEM IN THE HOUSE! (I found the third one yesterday in the yard.) Greg was working late, so I had to pick up the baby bunnies so they could rest in peace in a bundle of grocery store bags. Why, oh, why is she doing this? What is she trying to tell us? I feel like it's more than "it's just in her blood". What's your story June? What happened during that first year of your life?

June's behaviors make me think so much about dogs, of course, but about people, too. Every behavior is a reaction. During a research class I took, the professor kept asking us to find the root cause of the problem we were researching. Keep going back and further back. Keep asking yourself, what caused that to happen?

As we face these uncertain times, I'm still processing it all. Are we really home from school until April 13th? Did COVID-19 really shut down Rodeo Houston? And I know the toilet paper shortage is real! Every behavior, during this crazy time, is a reaction. Some of the bizarre reactions are due to the 24/7 media coverage of the pandemic. The hoarding of supplies is one thing that I do understand. It's something that is under one's control in a seemingly uncontrollable time. If it makes someone feel better to take all of the meat and all of the toilet paper, I can survive on pinto beans and two squares of tissue for each bathroom visit!

The Oregon Trail - Go play it now!

Trying to keep a schedule is key for Izzy and for me. Over the weekend, I created a simple schedule to keep us in a routine as we waited for guidance from the school district. It's nothing fancy, and I looked at online resources we already had from her teachers to build some of her lessons. A true gem from Izzy's social studies teacher: The Oregon Trail video game. I kid you not! Yesterday's lesson resulted in time travel; I was back in my 5th grade classroom dying of dysentery! These moments are the silver lining. Spending time with my daughter, no matter the circumstances, is a blessing. I am grateful that we have this time together. (Check on me in a few days! LOL!)

So now I'm just going to depend on June for meat; three rabbits a day worked out fine for The Oregon Trail... yeah, whatever!

Just Let Me Finish This Chapter!

Over this past year, I've read 31 books, not including the many picture books that comprised the majority of my Amazon purchases! #teacherprobs Five of the 31 books were nonfiction; two were historical fiction. The majority of my reads were fiction. When it comes to books, I definitely have a “type”. Give me a great thriller, and you’ll find me on the couch for the next 24 hours!

Here’s the books I read in 2019:

• The Innocent Man (NF)
• True Places
• The Tattooist of Auschwitz (HF)
• Magic Hour
• Stories From Webb (professional)
• Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
• Picture Perfect
• Magic Hour
• Valencia and Valentine 
• Nine Perfect Strangers
• We Got This. (professional)
• Killers of Flower Moon (NF)
• Educated (NF)
• A Boy Called BAT (children's)
• Those Girls
• False Step
• Pieces of Her
• Run Away
• Where the Crawdads Sing
• The Polygamist’s Daughter (NF)
• The Wife Between Us
• Girl, Stop Apologizing (motivational)
• I am Watching You
• The Woman in the Window
• The Silent Patient
• One Day in December
• The Alice Network (HF)
• Room to Breathe 
• If You Tell (NF)
• Unspeakable Things
• Drowning With Others

The best book I read in 2019 was Educated by Tara Westover. I could not put this book down! The shocking story of Tara’s childhood experiences followed by her journey for education and a better life was truly inspiring. Books like this (and also the books The Polygamist's Daughter and If You Tell) are shocking reminders that things aren't always as they seem; there are monsters out there. From this unbelievable real-life horror story, comes stories of strength and perseverance. This "type" of book is quickly becoming a new favorite of mine.

Currently, I’m reading Children of Virtue Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi This is the long-awaited sequel to Children of Blood and Bone. This fantasy series rivals the Harry Potter series. Yes, it’s that good!

So, what are my book goals for 2020?

• Read 36 books
• Read more nonfiction
• Try at least one audiobook. I have friends who listen to audiobooks on their commute and while doing housework. I don’t have much of a commute, but I’m thinking I could listen while doing things around the house! 

Today is January 1, 2020: the first page in the next chapter of our lives. As we embark on this fresh start, I plan to replace more of my screen time with other, more productive things, and, to me, one of the best ways to do that is through reading good books... and on that note, I've got to get back to book number one for 2020... yeah, whatever!

Just Like Riding A Bike

Teaching Izzy to ride a bike may be one of the most challenging things Greg and I have done thus far as parents! Back when Izzy turned five, we got her a bike with training wheels. She was great with those training wheels and even proceeded to ride her bike into the big pond down the street! (That's a now-hilarious story for another day!) Once we took the training wheels off, we were faced with so many frustrations; Izzy struggled with balance, and we struggled with patience.

People of Wal-Mart

A few years later, I read about a bike camp in Katy for children with disabilities, immediately signed up, and was placed on a waiting list. For three years, we remained on that waiting list. This year, I started reading through their website. I found the protocol used for teaching children this skill, and I thought, 'hey... let's give it a try!' As I read through the instructions, it made so much sense. (Directions here if you want them!) We made a beeline for Wal-Mart and bought new bikes for Izz and Greg. For a week straight, we took Izzy outside to practice balancing. She gained balance and confidence quickly. Before we knew it, we were running alongside her, holding onto her seat as she pedaled away! It was hard... but we started letting go for a few seconds at a time. She wobbled, tumbled to the ground, and even scratched up her knee a few times. There were many tears and lots of frustrated pleading to just get off the bike and go home. Of course, this made it harder to let go the next time - both for us and for Izzy.

One evening, I was following behind as Greg held onto the back of Izzy's seat.

As he started to let go, Izzy shouted, "Dad! Don't let go!"

Greg replied, "I have to..."

The second Greg uttered those words, my heart stopped for a beat. This wasn't about riding a bike anymore. All of my concerns about Izzy heading to junior high flooded my mind. Next thing I knew, Izzy rode the bike independently the rest of the way home! We were, and still are, so proud of her progress!

While I don't want to let go and let Izzy go off to junior high, I have to. Of course, we're going to be right there beside her to catch her when she falls, help her up when she stumbles, and dry the tears. For a few months, I seriously considered going off to junior high with Izzy. I thought of all of the reasons why she and I needed to be together for three more years... and then, on this warm summer evening, I realized that I need to let go and let her do this on her own. She will be fine. She will be more than fine. She will achieve a new level of independence. This is what Greg and I truly want for Izzy, for her to be as independent as she can possibly be. It needs to start now with this baby step that feels like a big, gigantic step for this helicopter mom! It's not going to be easy, but it's what's best for her. What a privilege it was to have her with me for six years at Exley Elementary! Six years! I treasure each and every special memory that we made together at Exley. She will be just one short mile down the road from me, and while that mile feels forever long right now, I am grateful that's where she'll be.

Last Day of 5th Grade - Six Beautiful Years Together!

One of the big conversations we continually have with Izzy is that bike riding isn't easy, and it's OK to fall. The important thing is that you get up and try again. A few days after one of Izzy's falls, Greg fell off of his bike. He said that he tried to hop the curb and that it was totally worthy of America's Funniest Videos! A few days later, Uncle Jimmy was visiting... he took Greg's bike for a spin, and he fell off! While we all laughed about their falls, it was a humbling reminder... we all fall. No one has a perfect ride every time. Sometimes, it's not 'just like riding a bike'. Life is hard. Even things that are seemingly easy and "normal" can be challenging at times. Sometimes, quitting seems like the best choice. Often, staying in your comfort zone, with a strong hand holding your bicycle seat seems like the best option. Sometimes, it's super hard, but letting go, gaining independence, and reaching for the next goal is the next best step.

5th Grade Celebration of Learning

There will be tears on Izzy's first day of 6th grade... from me, not from her! She is so very excited to join her friends at McMeans Junior High. I mentioned to Izzy that mommy could be a teacher at McMeans and be with her for another few years. Her response, "No way! Mom, I'm going to be with my friends at junior high. You stay at Exley!" I had to laugh. Maybe I'm still trying to hold on a little bit longer... and maybe everything in the universe is telling me to let go.

I'm sure you're wondering where my bicycle is. Well, I had a horrible bike wreck when I was about Izzy's age. I scraped up my elbows and knees pretty badly and even had to visit the ER. I have to confess that I can count on one hand the number of times I've been on a bike since then. I know, I know. Practice what you preach, Lora! Get back on the bike. Here's the deal: I've gotten on the metaphorical bike oh so many times and really taken off. However, there are many times that I feel it's time for the next ride, to get out of my comfort zone once again, and do something new and exciting. So maybe you'll see me on an actual bike soon... riding down the road and to peek in Izzy's classroom window at McMeans... yeah, whatever!

Look for the Blossoms

Last summer, we added cacti to our landscaping in the backyard. This desert look really wasn't my style, but as the cacti began to grow, I was amazed. This ugly, prickly, green plant sprouted buds everywhere! Each day I waited and waited and waited for them to bloom. Finally, a beautiful yellow blossom appeared. In the midst of the sharp spikes was this stunning flower. A few days later, the flower was gone, and, in its place, a new stem began to grow. I was obsessed! I started researching cacti and even learned how to transplant a cactus stem to grow a new plant. You can imagine my excitement when my transplanted cactus began to thrive!

This simple cactus reminds me so much of the ugly, prickly, unexpected mess that life brings us. We may not understand at the time why that spike... the loss of a loved one, loss of a job, medical issues, a strained relationship... is a part of our life. But if we wait patiently, we will begin to see a bud forming, the beginning of something new.

In November, our world was turned upside down when Greg's dad unexpectedly passed away. I've struggled to find the words to write about him; I feel that my words will not honor him in the way he truly deserves. Most days it feels like a bad dream. It just doesn't feel right saying "Bee Bee" and not following it with "... and Paw Paw". It feels so strange to see his empty seat at the table. It is so odd to see the kids laughing and playing and not see his face looking at them and glowing with pride.

This was our ugly, prickly cactus of 2018. While we can't see God's plan in this right now, I'll tell you what I do see. I see Jerry in each of his children. I see him in Greg's walk, talk, and definitely in his singing and guitar playing. I see him in Jimmy's patient way with Izzy, talking to her so softly while at the same time holding her to high expectations that are shaping her into a beautiful young lady. I see him in the way that Shelby goes above and beyond for her students, players, and Abbey and Henry, ensuring that they live up to their potential. I hear laughter when we share our favorite memories. The hilarious "great marinara sauce incident" from Thanksgiving will forever be ingrained in our hearts. He brought us so much joy, and that joy lives on with each funny story we retell. I see tears when the emotions are just too much to hold inside, on those days when we once again remember that this is our reality. I feel his love that is so very rooted in all that we do with and for each other. That's his legacy. They are the cactus blossoms. As long as we continue to look for those buds, and wait patiently for them to bloom, we will see what God has in store for us.

My cactus is full of buds right now; I've never had a cactus this full of buds. Each day, I open the blinds and look for the blossoms. Each day, those buds give me hope. They remind me to seek out the joy, cherish every moment, look for the legacy, and hold dear to each memory.

To think a man who led such a simple life could leave behind so much
It's just a lot of little things but they mean the world to me
Everywhere I look there's one more memory
There's a little bit of you in everything I see 

- George Strait, "Everything I See"