I think I remember telling you that in at least 4th grade I started getting books in the adult section at the library, where this memory is sort of related to this.
I remember in elementary school... maybe middle school, I don't remember when they stopped having them for us, ... But either way one of the highlights of my year was always when the book fair was at school. I think sometimes they had them twice a year, but I could be wrong.
They would always change this section of the library into this lovely little store where there were delightful things to look at and books with big shiny spines. I don't think every year we could buy things from the book fair, but it was always a delight when we did.
I remember when they had the book fair I would try to visit the room they were having more than one day. It was just such a delightful little place. At one of the schools, I think in Arcadia, they had the book fair in what used to be this study room.
So, this one quiet room was filled with all kinds of treasures. I remember being mesmerized by the bookmarks, a lot of them had nice little charms on the end. They were a lot better than the usual standard paper ones you normally see. They were also a lot better than the little pieces of paper I sometimes ripped up to mark the places in my book.
I have always been fascinated by bookmarks... though honestly I mainly still use little scraps of paper, and library return cards to mark my place though I have a few. Anyway, on this one particular book fair, I know I wasn't going to have money to the last day of the book fair.
I had gone in a couple times before. Finally it was the day I had money. I was excited because they had a few adult books there for the parents that came in.
I remember scanning the titles, and feeling happy just holding the new unopened books in my hands. My eyes fell on this one title, "Interview with a vampire." i had just enough money to buy it and one of the cheaper book marks.
I remember feeling a little guilty as I strolled up to the counter. The worker didn't say anything just rang up the purchases, and put them in a little bag for me.
I remember finishing the book almost instantly. I have read it several times since then. It was such a thrilling book.
I don't remember how long it took me to read it, but I remember instantly falling in love with the characters. I think I even had a crush on Louis...which I know is probably a little weird, but it isn't like it will be the first and last time that I fall in love with a fictional character.
In high school, my friend had the other Vampire Chronicles and she let me borrow the Vampire Lestat... I may have borrowed Queen of the Damned as well I am not sure... I was disappointed though, it didn't hold the magic as the first one... Plus I had read many things since the first time I read Interview with a Vampire. It is sad to say with how much I love vampires, I am not sure I am a big Vampire Chronicles fan. I did reread Interview since then, and I like that one... The Vampire Lestat was very rambly, and she would tell stories inside stories
That isn't what I was talking about anyway. I really miss the book fairs. They were such special places. I still get that delightful feeling when I enter a bookstore, but sadly I don't get to go as much as I like (Actually the bookstore near my house closed, and I didn't get to go one last time before they closed, due to lack of funds)
I am not sure if schools still have bookfairs. I honestly hope they do. I know most of ours were done by this company called Scholastic, which I know is still in business, but whoever does them I hope they still do so children can experience what a delightful place they were.
No comments:
Post a Comment