Another one close to my heart. My (chemical) engineer dad kept a list of the classical music CDs he had listened to as well as being an avid list-maker all round. Thank you for this one. ♥️
You're so welcome; its so much fun to share it and hear from others. It's cool to see that these engineer minded men also found joy in art, in the humanities.
I love every inch of this. My father was a voracious reader; all of us (I am one of four) remember the stacks of books by his nightstand. Since he modeled it, he raised four children who are lifetime readers. My mom read too, but she was busier (lol), and she loved reading articles and books about politics. I have a spiral notebook that I began in 1982, 10 years after I graduated from high school. I have a list of almost 2700 books….. something about it is cool. Your dad was cool. I love a list……. And it helps me now when I start a book and think, “have I already read this?” I consult the list and go, “yes.” :-) Thanks for this — I am crazy about the photo — the cereal boxes, the breakfast table, the chairs, the wallpaper, and the children….so wonderful.
I'm so glad you liked it and it sparked memories. You've read a ton of books! ... it is absolutely cool! The photo is quite the entertaining time capsule. My mom was the same keeping up with 4 kids left her with little down time compared to Dad with lots of time to pass in airplanes and hotels on business trips.
I was so moved and tickled by this lovely tribute. "What a silly, wonderful thing to know" is just the perfect sentiment. So touching that your husband made you a copy...and I'm glad you ended up with the actual book.
Oh, goodness. How I love this story. In 1998, I started keeping my own log (in a spreadsheet) of every book I've read. I often thought it was a strange thing to do and have often been needled by those who know I have done this. Now, I look at this as my personal history of exploration and enjoyment. It's nice to to know that I'm in good company with people like your Dad
How wonderful to have that list. In my father’s POW journal from WWII he lists all the books he read during his time as a prisoner. The books were from the Red Cross. He read anything from A tree Grows in Brooklyn to how to care for your infant. Whatever was available. There is now a museum in Stalag Luft III trying to show the POW camp as is. The director was thrilled to get my father’s list so he could put books on the shelves that were actually books read by prisoners. Thanks for your story. I’m trying to read a few books from my dad’s list each year.
Wow! What a story you have in your father! I’d never even imagined access to books in POW situation (I did read When Books Go to War about getting GIs books during WWII). How thrilling that his list is in the museum…the enduring power of books in good times and bad, but especially bad times when they remind us we’re human. Thanks so much for telling me about him.
What a treasure that notebook is. I live and breathe by lists. My book list is kept digitally on Goodreads which I can geek out on and sort my books by title, author, date read, etc. but nothing beats the pages of a spiral-bound notebook. ❤️
It's not actually but a marvelous coincidence in timing. I was already drafting the first version when I saw Dan's List hit the news. Started his list just 2 years after my dad; my parents even lived in Colombus for a time in the mid-60s... what a small world! Dan lived a lot longer than my dad but it's so wonderful to see his list and know they were all library books!! Here's Dan's list: https://cml.bibliocommons.com/user_profile/2817330487
I had to go look up his obituary because I was too curious. He wasn't in Ohio at the same time, but this comment was in the obituary: "his reading tastes tracking closely with his unpretentious nature. While Dan conquered all the classics and read every volume to the end, he much preferred John Grisham to James Joyce" -- My dad would concur. Guess I'll have to crosscheck Dan's list with Dad's! (Thank you for posting and reminding me of Dan; I'd nearly forgotten.)
I loved reading this one ("The one about the book list"), Jen! I also appreciate how it's in dialogue with The Keepthings essay that brought me in as a devoted follower of The Keepthings (and fan of Editor and Founder Deborah Way). "The one about the flash drive" filled with a mother's past yoga teachings. I marvel at how these artifacts become unexpected legacies left behind by a parent. Both of these invite me to contemplate what legacies I'll leave behind for my three children. Cross referencing, https://thekeepthings.substack.com/p/the-flash-drive
Thank you for sharing the link to the flash drive; I hadn't yet read it. I love how it shows so much foresight on the mom's part. Both the flash drive and my dad's list feel like breadcrumbs leading you to more!
This is just lovely. My dad was a traveling salesman selling x-ray rooms. He would buy whatever paperback bestseller was on the rack at the airport, read a few pages, end up talking to his seat mate for the rest of the flight, then place the unread book on the shelf in the den. That’s why I read The Peter Principle when I was 12 or 13, and a wide assortment of bestsellers from novels to nonfiction.
This resonates so much with me. I always wanted to do the book list, sadly never did. I was an only child who grew up in a world of adults. Books were my companions, always had one nearby. I read voraciously, now sporadically.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful reminder of the friendship of books!
My dad was an only child as well and I wonder if his affinity for reading started similar to yours. (I too regret not heading Dad's suggestion to keep a paper written list.)
What a great keepsake!!! I know both my parents read a lot and instilled that in me and my siblings that the three of us still keep on with today. I vividly remember my Dad defending me against a hospital nurse when I was 16 for reading The Seven Minutes by Irving Wallace a book he read and gave to me to read. I was allowed to read anything and did. Sadly I did not keep a list but remember many he suggested.
A love of reading is definitely a great family legacy. And I feel you on the regret of not keeping a list. I have recent digital lists, but all the things I read in college that I was certain "I won't forget reading that"... all gone. I suppose its never too late to start.
During HS & College I read a ton of "classics" I missed in school classes (or did Cliff notes on as I didn't appreciate what they were) like Moby Dick, tons of Dickens novels, Ayn Rand in addition to all the books from the best seller lists. I have a running list now but it is only a few years old and I don't have the energy to go backward to remember all those books. When I found an author I liked, I read everything by them, kind of still do that ;-).
Another one close to my heart. My (chemical) engineer dad kept a list of the classical music CDs he had listened to as well as being an avid list-maker all round. Thank you for this one. ♥️
You're so welcome; its so much fun to share it and hear from others. It's cool to see that these engineer minded men also found joy in art, in the humanities.
And I LOVE a list. :-)
Who doesn't? 😏
I love every inch of this. My father was a voracious reader; all of us (I am one of four) remember the stacks of books by his nightstand. Since he modeled it, he raised four children who are lifetime readers. My mom read too, but she was busier (lol), and she loved reading articles and books about politics. I have a spiral notebook that I began in 1982, 10 years after I graduated from high school. I have a list of almost 2700 books….. something about it is cool. Your dad was cool. I love a list……. And it helps me now when I start a book and think, “have I already read this?” I consult the list and go, “yes.” :-) Thanks for this — I am crazy about the photo — the cereal boxes, the breakfast table, the chairs, the wallpaper, and the children….so wonderful.
I'm so glad you liked it and it sparked memories. You've read a ton of books! ... it is absolutely cool! The photo is quite the entertaining time capsule. My mom was the same keeping up with 4 kids left her with little down time compared to Dad with lots of time to pass in airplanes and hotels on business trips.
I was so moved and tickled by this lovely tribute. "What a silly, wonderful thing to know" is just the perfect sentiment. So touching that your husband made you a copy...and I'm glad you ended up with the actual book.
Thank you. One of my dad's favorite sayings was "Better to ask for forgiveness than permission." So I think he'd approve of my husband's sneakiness.
What a wonderful story and so surprising the things you learn about people from the quirky things they do.
Love this - what a gift it is, to have this record.
Oh, goodness. How I love this story. In 1998, I started keeping my own log (in a spreadsheet) of every book I've read. I often thought it was a strange thing to do and have often been needled by those who know I have done this. Now, I look at this as my personal history of exploration and enjoyment. It's nice to to know that I'm in good company with people like your Dad
Thanks for reading! I’m so glad you stuck to your plan and keep recordingin your spreadshet. Twenty-five-plus years on I bet you have quite the list.
How wonderful to have that list. In my father’s POW journal from WWII he lists all the books he read during his time as a prisoner. The books were from the Red Cross. He read anything from A tree Grows in Brooklyn to how to care for your infant. Whatever was available. There is now a museum in Stalag Luft III trying to show the POW camp as is. The director was thrilled to get my father’s list so he could put books on the shelves that were actually books read by prisoners. Thanks for your story. I’m trying to read a few books from my dad’s list each year.
Wow! What a story you have in your father! I’d never even imagined access to books in POW situation (I did read When Books Go to War about getting GIs books during WWII). How thrilling that his list is in the museum…the enduring power of books in good times and bad, but especially bad times when they remind us we’re human. Thanks so much for telling me about him.
What a treasure that notebook is. I live and breathe by lists. My book list is kept digitally on Goodreads which I can geek out on and sort my books by title, author, date read, etc. but nothing beats the pages of a spiral-bound notebook. ❤️
Wow, certainly an amazing timing coincidence!
I’m guessing this is the same list the Columbus Metropolitan Library is celebrating? Thank you for sharing it with all of us!
It's not actually but a marvelous coincidence in timing. I was already drafting the first version when I saw Dan's List hit the news. Started his list just 2 years after my dad; my parents even lived in Colombus for a time in the mid-60s... what a small world! Dan lived a lot longer than my dad but it's so wonderful to see his list and know they were all library books!! Here's Dan's list: https://cml.bibliocommons.com/user_profile/2817330487
I had to go look up his obituary because I was too curious. He wasn't in Ohio at the same time, but this comment was in the obituary: "his reading tastes tracking closely with his unpretentious nature. While Dan conquered all the classics and read every volume to the end, he much preferred John Grisham to James Joyce" -- My dad would concur. Guess I'll have to crosscheck Dan's list with Dad's! (Thank you for posting and reminding me of Dan; I'd nearly forgotten.)
I loved reading this one ("The one about the book list"), Jen! I also appreciate how it's in dialogue with The Keepthings essay that brought me in as a devoted follower of The Keepthings (and fan of Editor and Founder Deborah Way). "The one about the flash drive" filled with a mother's past yoga teachings. I marvel at how these artifacts become unexpected legacies left behind by a parent. Both of these invite me to contemplate what legacies I'll leave behind for my three children. Cross referencing, https://thekeepthings.substack.com/p/the-flash-drive
Thank you for sharing the link to the flash drive; I hadn't yet read it. I love how it shows so much foresight on the mom's part. Both the flash drive and my dad's list feel like breadcrumbs leading you to more!
*Correction: meditation teachings (not yoga teachings)
This is just lovely. My dad was a traveling salesman selling x-ray rooms. He would buy whatever paperback bestseller was on the rack at the airport, read a few pages, end up talking to his seat mate for the rest of the flight, then place the unread book on the shelf in the den. That’s why I read The Peter Principle when I was 12 or 13, and a wide assortment of bestsellers from novels to nonfiction.
The Peter Principle is on my dad's list! (One of only 3 he read in 1976... now I'm curious.) Those airport bookstores sure did amazing business.
If I recall correctly the principle is that people consistently rise to the level of their incompetence/past
the level of their competence. It has aged well.
Ha! Certainly sounds timely
This resonates so much with me. I always wanted to do the book list, sadly never did. I was an only child who grew up in a world of adults. Books were my companions, always had one nearby. I read voraciously, now sporadically.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful reminder of the friendship of books!
My dad was an only child as well and I wonder if his affinity for reading started similar to yours. (I too regret not heading Dad's suggestion to keep a paper written list.)
What a great keepsake!!! I know both my parents read a lot and instilled that in me and my siblings that the three of us still keep on with today. I vividly remember my Dad defending me against a hospital nurse when I was 16 for reading The Seven Minutes by Irving Wallace a book he read and gave to me to read. I was allowed to read anything and did. Sadly I did not keep a list but remember many he suggested.
A love of reading is definitely a great family legacy. And I feel you on the regret of not keeping a list. I have recent digital lists, but all the things I read in college that I was certain "I won't forget reading that"... all gone. I suppose its never too late to start.
During HS & College I read a ton of "classics" I missed in school classes (or did Cliff notes on as I didn't appreciate what they were) like Moby Dick, tons of Dickens novels, Ayn Rand in addition to all the books from the best seller lists. I have a running list now but it is only a few years old and I don't have the energy to go backward to remember all those books. When I found an author I liked, I read everything by them, kind of still do that ;-).