My name's Mama Undone and I'm a bookophile.  I always have been.   As a child I was allowed to access the adult library early because I'd read through the children's section.  Often The Mother would have to explain to friends that I wasn't coming out to play because I was reading.  Even now, I read and read and then read some more.  So, it's of no great surprise that The Spawn are enthusiastic and dedicated little book lovers.

This got be reminiscing about the books I read and enjoyed in my youth. I remember the mandatory things such as Fuzz Buzz, Bangers & Mash and Topsy and Time etc but what about the books we chose?  The ones we liked?  There's far too many to possibly list, I have had a long reading journey with eclectic tastes but here are a few that stick out in my memory.....

* Winnie -the- Pooh [A. A. Milne]

Brother 2 (The Golden Son) was gifted a copy of this by his Godfather in 1976.  I have fond memories of The Mother reading this to me, chapter by chapter, at bedtimes when I was but a small girl.  I also remember The Brothers Grim creeping into the room to listen whilst pretending they weren't really listening to it at all.  

I've always had a soft spot for those that live within the 100 Acre Wood.

Whenever we went to the dentist, as a child, there was a book I was drawn towards every time in the waiting room about a rather rambunctious little dog called Hairy Maclary.  I'd rush towards the book corner as soon as we arrived knowing that everything would be just fine so long as that book was there.  I think part of me saw it as my book that just happened to lodge at the dentists.

Naturally as soon as I procreated I was anxious to see if this precious book still existed so imagine my sheer delight upon seeing there's a whole series of them!  I don't know who enjoys them the most, myself or The Preschooler.

I remember reading all about The Five Children and It way before it became a tv series.  I had this set of books all in the same red hardback covers embossed with gold writing.

I read the series of these books too.

I remember reading this several times yet to this day I've never seen the film

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I can't think of many girls who grew up in the 80s-90s who didn't read Judy Bloom books, finally 'graduating' to Forever which saw to the fact that never again would you look upon the name Ralph without sniggering.









As I embarked upon the teenage years other books sneaked in such as Point Romance, Point Horror, Making Out series, Sweet Valley University books finally leading on to Discworld, Poppy Z Brite, Anne Rice, Chuck Palahniuk, Anne Sexton, Sylvia Plath, Bram Stoker etc in my late teens.

Lets not forget the books we were made to read for our GCSEs such as To Kill a Mocking Bird which I adored and at A'level .... works by Seamus Heaney who I utterly loathed.

Which books remind you of growing up?  Which were your favourates?

Things your parents never bought you

Do you remember when you was a child those things that you nagged and begged for yet never got?   You asked at Christmas and Birthdays and everybody else had them, except you.  Do you remember how mad you were at the sheer and utter unfairness of it all?  How completely and absurdly mean your parents were?  The absolute injustice of it all?  Well, here are five of the things that spring to my mind when I think of the things my parents never bought me....

1. Mr Frosty

I wanted one of these badly.  I still to this day haven't been given an actual reason from The Parents as to why they never ever got me one despite me pleading.  Bastards.


2. Cabbage Patch Doll

These were all the rage in the 80's.  Everyone was getting them.  Everyone except me that is.  Why?  The Mother refused to be me one purely because they were, in her opinion, too hideously ugly.  Which is odd seeing as it wasn't for her.

3. Hocky boots

My Google-Fu for an image is failing me here.  I had the mandatory roller boots, hell despite being somewhat terrified of them I even had a roller-disco birthday party one year yet when all the cool kids upgraded their roller boots to chunky Hockey Boots, I wasn't allowed any.  It was so unfair.

4. Scooter

I adored my bike (which I rode until my knees were over the handlebars as The Mother hates bikes and refused to ever let me have another) yet these BMX-style scooters were incredibly popular and very cool.  Did I get one?  Did I heck as like.

5. boy doll

A neighbour had two Zapf baby dolls, I think she called them Susan and Daniel. Not only were they twins but one was a boy! Oh how I  lusted after those dolls, yet I never ever had a boy doll.  The woe, the woe! I tell you.  It was unbearable.

Now don't get me wrong, there were plenty of things I did get, perhaps my next post will highlight some of my favourate childhood toys.  For now though, I'll wallow in the corner and indulge in some true emo-ness over the things I never had.

So, cast your mind back to your childhood.  What toys did you really want yet never got?