First, an explanation of my blog title. A Bridge of Words comes from one of my favorite quotes about reading and writing from Madeleine L’Engle:
Readers usually grossly underestimate their own importance. If a reader cannot create a book along with the writer, the book will never come to life. Creative involvement: that’s the difference between reading a book and watching TV. In watching TV, we are passive – sponges; we do nothing. In reading, we must become creators, imagining, the setting of the story, seeing the facial expressions, hearing the inflection of the voices. The author and the reader “know” each other; they meet on the bridge of words.
Since reading that quote, I’ve loved the image of a reader and a writer meeting each other through the pages and creating the story together. Each time a book is read a different story is created because, while the words on the page remain the same, the person reading them brings their own life experience and their own imagination to the story.
Now about me:
BookChick, aka Tiffany, is a 20-something who loves to spend her time surrounded by great books, sumptuous yarn, and good friends. Here is a little bit about me:
Books
From the time I was a little girl, you can almost always find me with a book in my hand. Reading is one of my passions, and I hope to one day make it my career. Most people ask me what kinds of books I like to read, and that’s a really difficult question for any book lover to answer. I could list some of my favorite authors and some of my favorite books, but even that doesn’t fully encompass and adequately express my love of reading. I enjoy the physical act of reading – the feel of the book in my hands, the smell of the pages, curling up in a comfortable chair and losing myself in the words. I currently work as a paralegal for a healthcare law practice, but am planning to go back to school to pursue my master’s degree in literature with the ultimate goal being a Ph.D. and a job teaching literature at a university where I can help cultivate the love of reading in others.
Crochet
My mom taught me to crochet when I was in 5th grade. My very first project was a set of dishcloths that I made as a Christmas present for my teacher. I didn’t stick with the craft through my teen years, preferring to devote my time to cross-stitch instead. During college, I picked up some yarn and a hook again for a little while, but it never became a big part of my life. About a year ago, last spring, I decided to explore the world of crochet again, and quickly became “hooked.” I found the online community of Crochetville and this helped to feed my addiction by supplying pattern ideas, help when I got stuck, and a wonderful group of caring people to support and cheer on my progress. Crochet is my relaxation and my form of artistic expression.
Knitting
After getting back into crochet, I decided that I wanted to learn how to knit. So, I bought some needles, and tried to teach myself from some online resources. I think I tried about 4-5 times and just got so frustrated that I would give up and put the needles away and run back to the familiarity of my crochet hook. This past winter, someone told me about KnittingHelp.com, so I went and checked it out. And after watching the videos and slowly practicing, it clicked! Before long, I was knitting away like I’d been doing it forever. Knitting has become just as relaxing a hobby for me as crochet, and I usually split my time equally between the two.
