The Giver is the second book I remember discussing with a peer. I always read above my grade level in elementary school and so mine was a lonely bookishness. But two events stick out for me:
1) Discovering that one of my friends at Girl Scout Camp was an equally avid reader, and going over every detail of the Little House books.
2) Sitting in the corner during free time in 5th grade, reading The Giver, and the first boy I ever had a crush on coming over and saying, "Ooh, I love that book! Tell me when you finish--I want to talk about the ending with someone!"
It's the first time I ever wanted to actually discuss (as opposed to simply rehashing) a book. It had never occurred to me before. (I could say the same about this boy engaging me in conversation).
I'm now 24 and married (happily, not to the boy from 5th grade--we were never meant to be.) When I moved in with my husband, we discovered that we owned a total of THREE copies of The Giver--each of ours from childhood plus one I bought more recently for my classroom library.
Sorry to have missed you at Books of Wonder (try a cupcake next time--they're very good!) I look forward to the day I can send you a story about teaching some of your books.

How lovely! I especially enjoyed your sharing this instructor's amazing experiences! As an education student working on my B.A. these kinds of tale are so inspiring! Thanks! Happy Mother's Day! Teresa

It is scary how much life and art parallel each other, sometimes taking turns on which will emerge first. What is happening in Arizona is saddening and frightening. "We" seem to have a very short term memory and forget how the vast majority of people living here did not originate from here.
I, too, spent a great deal of time thinking about what Jules said about the books one reads as a child having the biggest impact on your life. I always remember being drawn to books about animals and the natural world. Although I remember enjoying some fiction in my middle years, it wasn't until college that I really developed a passion for novels and literature. The two or three books that I credit to having the greatest impact on my life weren't read until my early twenties. Also, I agree with your estimate of signing a zillion books... the owner seemed to keep finding more and more, as if they were being published in the back room right at that moment. I felt bad for going back to get five more books to be signed.

Not complaining about all the signing!!! It's fun doing it. I think we wore Jules out, though.

"A good story is like a comet, it comes from nowhere, bewildering the author as much as it will bewilder the reader. It is one of the few miracles left in this world of crass ambition, manipulation, calculated profundity and soulless rubbish...."
-Edna O'brien
Introduction to
DUBLINERS by JJ