Blog Post #2-Your Reading Autobiography Special Post-due Monday

 Reading Autobiography  

How does reading fit into the story of your life? Which books have shaped who you are and how you see the world?  

A reading autobiography is a timeline of a person’s reading experiences-both positive and negative-from their first memories to the present. It is not just a list of memorable books, but it often starts there. They can generate self-reflection and teach us about our own and other’s reading lives. What we choose to read and how much time and effort we invest in reading (or don’t) affects who we are.  

Every book we read offers potential benefits-knowledge, escape, entertainment,

insight-but some books transform us in fundamental ways. Maybe it’s the first time

you realized a book could evoke powerful emotions, or the first time a book changed

your mind about one of your beliefs, or the first time you fell in love with a character

or were inspired by a character.  

So how do I make a reading autobiography?  

Step 1: Make a quick list of ten books or so that stand out in your memories for some reason. Don’t overthink it. You don’t have to impress anyone! If it helps, make a timeline in your mind and revisit different ages. Here are some questions that might spark your thinking (you don’t need to answer all or any of them) 

• What is the first book you remember reading?  

• What read-aloud do you remember? At home? School?  

• What books from your childhood do you remember?  

• What books have made an impact in your teen years?  

• What was the first book where you connected with the protagonist or subject?  

• What was the first book to make you cry/laugh/rage?  

• What books have shaped your world view or choices?  

• What books have you shared with other readers?  

• Do you have traditions or rituals connected to specific books?  

                                            

 

Step 2: Once you have your list of books, put them in chronological order. Jot down what memories/emotions/thoughts you associate with them (or why you chose them). This can be positive or negative associations, and can be point form.  

 

Step 3: Select one title or reading experience and write about it in more detail. What do you recall about the experience or book? Why is it meaningful or influential to you? Under what circumstances did you read or share this book? Do you connect reading it with significant people or events in your life? What does this recollection show you about your relationship with reading? Write this in paragraph form-it can be told in the form of a story or a personal reflection-whatever form you want <3

*This Assignment was taken from "The Joy of Reading"

Due: Monday, February 2nd (special assignment)