The Most Wonderful Books: Writers on Discovering the Pleasures of Reading

In these short essays, published in association with the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress, 57 contemporary writers reminisce about their childhood encounters with reading. Although there is an overabundance of memories of being read to by parents and early encounters with libraries and librarians, the pieces are still varied and engaging. Bob Edwards, host of National Public Radio's Morning Edition, who now lives in a house with so many books it resembles a library, tells of growing up with parents who read only newspapers. Poet J.D. McClatchy recalls being instructed to read The Odyssey by candlelight in the basement of his home--his teacher wanted his students to duplicate the atmosphere in the hold of a storm-tossed ship. Fiction writer Ursula Hegi confesses to indulging in trashy romances that the family housekeeper hid under the ironing-board cover. Poet Naomi Shihab Nye sums up in one sentence the general sentiment: ""Reading is, simply, the best thing I ever do in my life."" Buchwald is publisher of Milkweed editions. Dorris (Cloud Chamber) died earlier this year. (Aug.)