From: Penny P Hayne <PHayne>
Date: Wed, 24 May 2006 07:57:28 -0400

My most influential book is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. As an only and sometimes lonely child, I could lose myself in this beautifully lyrical coming of age novel. I too had a hard-working, sometimes bitter mother, and a warm & loving, albeit alcoholic Irish father. Despite the fact that Francie lived in an urban area in the first part of the 20th century and I lived in a small southern town during the early 60s, I felt a kinship with this literary character which set the standard for all my future encounters with literature.
  Two scenes from this book which I return to again and again: when Francie and her brother stand together to absorb the tossing of the coveted Christmas tree which I read to my own two children, a boy and girl, every Christmas and the scene with the horrible librarian who humiliated and intimidated Francie. I cannot help but believe that my career path was heavily influenced by the desire to be a librarian who would befriend the Francies of this world!
  When I was in library school, a favored professor who received her PhD from UNC-Chapel Hill (Betty's chosen home) showed me a plant which had been rooted from a cutting off a plant owned by Betty Smith. What an electric feeling!
  This has been a wonderful discussion thread - thank you, Penny
 
 
  Penny Hayne Library Media Specialist National Board Certified Teacher 2002 Lake Murray Elementary School School District Five of Lexington and
   Richland Counties 1531 Three Dog Road Chapin, SC 29036
(803) 732-8151
(803) 732-8157 (fax)
Received on Wed 24 May 2006 06:57:28 AM CDT