Is love of reading/books hereditary or is it a learned behaviour?

[Kewtonia]

I'm an avid reader & always have been, I know I could read before I went to school, my mum taught me. She used to read a lot when she was young, as did my dad but, I cannot remember her doing much in her later years. We always had lots of books & dad bought us a set of Encyclopaedia Brittannica when we were growing up, they were really expensive back then.

Mum's dad also loved to read, he used to buy me books for birthday & christmas, I still have the Peter Pan, & the Wind in the Willows, Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Beau Geste, & Just So Stories, The Children of the New Forest fell apart because I read it so many times.

My middle sister never reads other than cookbooks, or occasionally reference ones about dogs or horses. She is dyslexic, which wasn't recognised back when we went to school. Her son loves to read.

My youngest sister is another avid reader (as is her husband), her eldest three children, always have been, her youngest is severely dyslexic but over the last few years has discovered Robin Hobb, Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman, & is as hooked on reading as the rest of us.

So did we inherit our love of reading, or did we learn to love reading through education &/or our environment?

[maroy41]

I'm an avid reader & always have been, I know I could read before I went to school, my mum taught me. She used to read a lot when she was young, as did my dad but, I cannot remember her doing much in her later years. We always had lots of books & dad bought us a set of Encyclopaedia Brittannica when we were growing up, they were really expensive back then.

Mum's dad also loved to read, he used to buy me books for birthday & christmas, I still have the Peter Pan, & the Wind in the Willows, Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Beau Geste, & Just So Stories, The Children of the New Forest fell apart because I read it so many times.

My middle sister never reads other than cookbooks, or occasionally reference ones about dogs or horses. She is dyslexic, which wasn't recognised back when we went to school. Her son loves to read.

My youngest sister is another avid reader (as is her husband), her eldest three children, always have been, her youngest is severely dyslexic but over the last few years has discovered Robin Hobb, Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman, & is as hooked on reading as the rest of us.

So did we inherit our love of reading, or did we learn to love reading through education &/or our environment?

I would say both, I was brought up with no TV only radio, and once I learned to read and found a public library I was lost to the written word, even today, now when we have TV, I still prefer reading because you can always put a book down and pick up the story where you left off. I also learnt more from books because although some are fiction, they are all based on fact through research, history you learn in a most interesting way, whereas in school - forget it - boring, and nothing sunk in to my noggin there.

[jarremachine]

I think it's a learned thing. My sis. & I used to always have our noses in our Enid Blyton books, brill!

These days I like to settle with a good Star Trek book or an auto/biography and I love the odd thriller too.

Not too long ago I read an Agatha Christie for the first time, quite intriguing too! Ah yes, when people were courteous, well spoken & polite to one another

For the love of animals, ya can't beat a good James Herriot for hilarity too!

I'm currently reading about Sharon Osbourne, absolutely absorbing reading

[DaisyChain]

I think its a learned thing. When iw as younger, i was known for being quite, timd and having my head in a book

I dont really read much these days, more out of idlness i think than having the time.

I read allsorts of books when i do read. A book i read whilst at un was the classic "Slaughterhouse 5" by kurt vonnegut. Its a anti war novel, but not the usual dreary moral tale and i would reccomend it to anyone.

Picture this

Spaceships, Time-travel and a a guy shot for stealing a teapot amongst the background of the dresden carpet bombings


brilliant

[chiquita]

I've got to say its a learned thing. My mother taught me to read before I started school, and I have enjoyed it ever since. Both of my parents were NOT readers at all, and neither were any of my brothers! So I was an odd one out. As a child it gave me my own fantasy world, as I was too timid to make friends. Now I'm older I still love to get stuck into a good meaty novel! Sometimes too much, as I have been known to read all night!
I have also written novels of my own, so I think if you have the literary bug, it stays with you!

[minkyrra]

I've got to say its a learned thing. My mother taught me to read before I started school, and I have enjoyed it ever since. Both of my parents were NOT readers at all, and neither were any of my brothers! So I was an odd one out. As a child it gave me my own fantasy world, as I was too timid to make friends. Now I'm older I still love to get stuck into a good meaty novel! Sometimes too much, as I have been known to read all night!
I have also written novels of my own, so I think if you have the literary bug, it stays with you!

here too, but substitute brothers with three sisters....

i was always being told off for being indoors on a summers day with my head in a book, instead of out playing in the sunshine

i used to shut down awareness of everything else around me and lose myself to the story.

oh i also used to get caught sitting reading, while pretending to do my chores - i would turn the hoover on and just leave it running

[silkcityuk2]

here too, but substitute brothers with three sisters....

i was always being told off for being indoors on a summers day with my head in a book, instead of out playing in the sunshine

i used to shut down awareness of everything else around me and lose myself to the story.

oh i also used to get caught sitting reading, while pretending to do my chores - i would turn the hoover on and just leave it running

lies
you dont know how to use a hoover

[minkyrra]

lies
you dont know how to use a hoover

pokes...

like i said, i pretended to use it


.....i do know how to turn one on you know

[mogmog2005]

I think its something you learn, my parents and grand parents brought both me and my sister books as gifts when we were growing up, eynid blyton, roald dahl etc and i loved them and wouldn't put them don but my sister had and still has no interest in them where as i still bury my head in books and am encouraging my daughter to do so too!

[janscavern]

I agree it is something you learn, my Mother bought both my Sister and I books as small children and we are both still avid readers. I love history, but also like a good scare and am currently working through James Herbert's books, Robert Goddard is also a favourite of mine, as is A Town Like Alice by Neville Shute.
My favourite book of all time is The Little White Horse, by Elizabeth Goudge. I have a well worn copy belonging originally to my Mother, who has sadly passed away now. Although it is a childrens book I can still lose myself in it.
I am trying to clear my spare room of books and have listed a few on here