In my childhood home, I did not grow up surrounded by literature or commercial novels. What I did grow up with were two items read daily by my parents with strong interest and complete devotion: The Bible and the daily newspaper.The Bible told us how to live, the newspaper told us how life was being lived by others. When the afternoon newspaper arrived, Mama hurried to get it and then, with a cup of coffee with cream and sugar, she settled down to read every word.