BETWEEN THE LINES: DUST OFF THE CLASSICS AND PICK UP A SUMMER NOVEL

After last week's column, I received a somewhat mysterious phone call from my uncle Terry asking that I call his daughter.

It seems I'd forgotten my cousin Darla when listing all my left-handed relatives. You'd think with so few of them in the family, I'd be able to keep track better.

I apologized for the omission, but thought she deserved some credit for pointing out my error.

At least she reads the paper, even if it's only to check my column.

After my conversation with her, I wondered how many other children actually read the paper. Or even how many other children read books instead of playing video games or watching television.

I'm sure they read books during the school year, when teachers require them to turn in book reports.

But how many actually read for the pure enjoyment of it? Area librarians likely can testify from their summer reading club rosters that children still read.

Maybe it sounds odd, but I read as a hobby.

My mom has a picture of my brother and I reading books in our backyard. I don't remember the day when she took the photo, but it appears to be spring from the way we're dressed.

As my mom tells the story, it was such a nice day outside, that she thought we needed to be outdoors instead of inside the house.

Since I was reading, I just took the books out to the yard. My brother, who's not as avid a reader, said it definitely must have my idea because it seems so out of character for him.

I love to read. I can think of no better way to spend an afternoon. If it's raining, I'll read inside. If the weather's nice, I'll be outside catching some rays while I turn pages.

I've usually got a stack of books piled so high beside my bed that I occasionally have to shove them aside so I can get into the bed.

The genre varies frequently. Most of the time, I pick a single author and read everything he or she has written. Then I move on to another, particularly among the mystery writers.

Other times, I just pick out a good biography to read.

Now that it's summer I need something more challenging. I tend to choose one classic book a summer and make it my goal to finish reading before the fall arrives.

Now that I'm an adult, no one sends me summer reading lists, like schoolchildren receive. I tend to forget just which authors there are to choose from.

Sure, I can remember Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Stephen Crane, Willa Cather, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams and Mark Twain, but surely there are dozens more that I am leaving out.

I realize now that I didn't read enough of the classics when I was in high school or college. For one thing, they weren't required -- and if it's not required and you don't get extra credit, few students will complete the task.

But of the few that I did read, "Wuthering Heights," and "Les Miserables" are among my favorites.

It took me the entire summer to finish Victor Hugo's book, but I did it. And enjoyed every page. I thought it was a great accomplishment.

Now that summer has arrived -- at least by the weather forecasts, if not the calendar -- I'm in need of a good summer novel. I have a few tucked away beside my bed, but nothing that seems to hold my interest.

Maybe I should call my English teacher friend in Florida and ask for my own version of a summer reading list. That is, unless you have any suggestions.

~Laura Johnston is a copy editor for the Southeast Missourian.