Members of the Parker family, originally from Roane County, get together each year for the West Virginia Book Festival. From left are: Tammy Parker, Sharon Parker, Susan Richards, Doug Hall, Judy Parker, Gordie Parker, Jan Hall and Joan Parker.
Parker, manager at the Clendenin Public Library, joined six of her siblings at the Charleston Civic Center Friday morning to prepare for the West Virginia Book Festival's book sale.
The family has such a love of reading that many brothers and sisters often get together each year for the festival, now in its eighth year. This year, it also coincides with Saturday's Parker family reunion at Coonskin Park.
"Our parents didn't have much formal education," said Joan Parker, the youngest sister of 12 siblings. "But they instilled in us the love of learning."
In her spare time, Joan's mother always read a book or solved crossword puzzles.
"Daddy was almost always studying a Bible," she said.
Today, her mother's eyes suffer from macular degeneration, but she still averages one audiobook a day.
"We would have to do our chores before we could read," said oldest sister Jan Hall. "That's how mom got us to do our chores." She and her husband, Doug, came in this weekend from New Jersey.
Judy Parker, who now lives in Georgia, used to read books like "Little Women" to Joan and her two other young sisters every night.
"Joan and I were going to be detectives like Nancy Drew," Tammy said.
The sisters said one brother, David, is a strong writer and an aspiring novelist.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Growing up, Tammy Parker remembers quiet Sundays at home where you couldn't hear a single peep in the living room.
Everyone was reading.
Parker, manager at the Clendenin Public Library, joined six of her siblings at the Charleston Civic Center Friday morning to prepare for the West Virginia Book Festival's book sale.
The family has such a love of reading that many brothers and sisters often get together each year for the festival, now in its eighth year. This year, it also coincides with Saturday's Parker family reunion at Coonskin Park.
"Our parents didn't have much formal education," said Joan Parker, the youngest sister of 12 siblings. "But they instilled in us the love of learning."
In her spare time, Joan's mother always read a book or solved crossword puzzles.
"Daddy was almost always studying a Bible," she said.
Today, her mother's eyes suffer from macular degeneration, but she still averages one audiobook a day.
"We would have to do our chores before we could read," said oldest sister Jan Hall. "That's how mom got us to do our chores." She and her husband, Doug, came in this weekend from New Jersey.
Judy Parker, who now lives in Georgia, used to read books like "Little Women" to Joan and her two other young sisters every night.
"Joan and I were going to be detectives like Nancy Drew," Tammy said.
The sisters said one brother, David, is a strong writer and an aspiring novelist.
Sharon, who lives in California, believes mid-October is a wonderful time for the book festival given the whole idea of curling up with a good book.
Her sister, Susan Richards, also lives in California. On her flight to West Virginia, she read a magazine article that asked whether electronic devices like the Amazon Kindle might replace the traditional book. The e-book lets the reader choose from numerous books and other media at any time.
"No, there's no replacement for this," Richards said.
Last spring, students in a book club at Horace Mann Middle School tested the Amazon Kindle and the Sony Reader Digital Book. Some students enjoyed the convenience of the new technology, others didn't.
"They have enough monitors in their life," Richards said of the latter. "There's something about holding it in your hand and turning the page and smelling it."
Want to go?
The West Virginia Book Festival
WHEN: Today, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.
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