Jackie P

I have always loved books, and most of my memories are tied to books. I can remember the very first book I read in the non-picture book section of my elementary school library - Johnathan Livingston Seagull. I probably didn't get much of the spiritual meaning as a third grader, but I continue to love seagulls. Good thing, because I live about... more »

I have always loved books, and most of my memories are tied to books. I can remember the very first book I read in the non-picture book section of my elementary school library - Johnathan Livingston Seagull. I probably didn't get much of the spiritual meaning as a third grader, but I continue to love seagulls. Good thing, because I live about a block from Lake Michigan in Milwaukee so I see many of them!

My love of books, especially young adult literature, led me to an early career in teaching Middle School English in the Milwaukee Public Schools for about 3 1/2 years. My favorite class at UWM was the young adult literature class which gave me my first exposure to Anne Rinaldi. Excellent young adult author of historical fiction. Other favorites included Lois Duncan from when I was in grade/middle/high school, Rob Thomas (Rats Saw God was amazing!), and, of course, J.K. Rowling. I read Harry Potter one night while waiting for my husband to come home from a night out with friends. I was determined to hate it, but I've read the series about 10 times now and I've listened to it all on tape on my way to and home from work.

My tastes are eclectic: fiction, non-fiction, pop biography (Allison Weir) to actual histories (great book read recently on the Wars of the Roses, cannot recall title off hand), classic (love Gone with the Wind - read about 16 times now, every year since 16; all Jane Austen but favorite Pride and Prejudice; Tess of the D'Urbervilles; Catch-22 - no one understood why I was laughing out loud while reading), young adult lit (yup, even Twilight) but escpecially fantasy/sci-fi for young adults (the Immortal Nicholas Flammel series is great!), science fiction/fantasy (favorite is some of Phlip Dick's work, Mary Stewart's Merlin/Arthur series, Mysts of Avalon)..pretty much everything.

Personal level: married at 20 to high school sweetheart, currently work in insurance industry, love walking around downtown/eastside/third ward/fifth ward Milwaukee, vegetarian since age 16. Would love to be in a book club with peoople who get together once a month to talk, eat, drink and othewise share a love of books. « less