This current Big Book List meme is fascinating. Even though I'm far too lazy to do it myself I look at everyone's answers and have noticed that so many people highlight the books from their (my) childhood as most loved -- Little Women, The Secret Garden, Swallows and Amazons, Winnie the Pooh, Wind in the Willows etc.
I was a book worm; my Saturday mornings were spent at the library carefully choosing and taking home 8-10 books. I was allowed my adult reading ticket at seven because I'd read everything else in the building. My Saturday afternoons were then spent lying on my tummy, in the garden or on my bed, absorbing every new and wonderful world.
When I wasn't reading, my best friend and I were outside role playing these books--Swallows and Amazons being the favourite--and having thought about it long and hard, I've decided that that's what I still do as a hobby. Fan fiction is that same childhood role play, except that there's a lot less exercise involved and, most of the time, a lot more porn.
On the downside, I don't read anywhere near as much as I used to. My free time is spent writing and I miss being submerged all day long in someone else's stories. It was escapism to the extreme. It was utter joy.
So now, after boring you all to death, I'm going to dig out my Louisa May Alcotts and my Frances Hodgson Burnetts and I'm going to make damn sure I find time to re-read them.
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