--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was growing up, I always read…" description: "\"When I was growing up, I always read horror books, while my sister read romance novels. My sister became unmarried and pregnant during high school, and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/dorothy-allison-2041_always_when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-read-horr_120027.jpg" --- # When I was growing up, I always read horror books, while… ![“When I was growing up, I always read horror books, while my sister read romance novels. My sister became unmarried and pregnant during high school, and she kept saying, 'This wasn't supposed to happen! Why is this happening to me?' Someone should have given her another book to read.” quote by Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/dorothy-allison-2041_always_when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-read-horr_120027.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/dorothy-allison-2041_always_when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-read-horr_120027.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69a/dorothy-allison-2041_always_when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-read-horr_120027.jpg) > “When I was growing up, I always read horror books, while my sister read romance novels. My sister became unmarried and pregnant during high school, and she kept saying, 'This wasn't supposed to happen! Why is this happening to me?' Someone should have given her another book to read.” [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading material can influence coping mechanisms; lacking appropriate narratives may leave individuals feeling helpless. **In simple terms:** Books shape how we handle crises. Key Takeaway Stories can provide guidance or leave gaps. Themes literature coping gender mental health Mood empathetic thoughtful Type observation advice When to use this quote - adolescence - mental health counseling Key Concepts narrative therapy social support Practical Applications - Recommend diverse reading lists - Encourage peer discussion groups Questions to Reflect On - What role do stories play in resilience? - How can we ensure supportive narratives are accessible? A Different Perspective Reading alone cannot replace professional help when needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/another/) [Became](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/became/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Books Sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books-sister-1401915/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happen/) [Happening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happening/) [Her](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/her/) [High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror/) [Horror Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror-book-220247/) [Horror Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror-books-548807/) [Kept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kept/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novels/) [Novels Sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novels-sister-1401917/) [Pregnant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pregnant/) [Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read/) [Read Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-horror-1401919/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Romance Novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance-novels-2/) [Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [She](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/she/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sister/) [Sister Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sister-read-1165390/) [Someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/someone/) [Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supposed/) [Unmarried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unmarried/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [While](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/while/) [Why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why/) ## Related quotes > [When I was growing up, I always read horror books, while my sister read romance novels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-read-horror-books-while-my-sister-read-2/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [When I was a kid, I was a big science fiction fan, but current horror books were harder to get your hands on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-a-big-science-fiction-fan-but-current-horror/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [The advantage of horror books is to take the reader and cut him out of the pack and work on him one on one.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-advantage-of-horror-books-is-to-take-the-reader-and-cut-him-out/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [There were no horror movies or horror books to speak of in the '40s. I picked the '50s because that pretty well spans my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/there-were-no-horror-movies-or-horror-books-to-speak-of-in-the-40s-i/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I don't read horror, ever. When I was 15, I made the mistake of reading part of 'The Exorcist.' It was the first and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-don-t-read-horror-ever-when-i-was-15-i-made-the-mistake-of-reading/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [When Mats came in the evenings, they would drink tea in the kitchen while reading their books and talking about them. If Katri came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/when-mats-came-in-the-evenings-they-would-drink-tea-in-the-kitchen/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) > [“He watched as her sister read it. Watched as her face crumpled, as her shoulders shook. Ashy. Caught her and held her, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-watched-as-her-sister-read-it-watched-as-her-face-crumpled-as-her/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Since when I was little, I would always write a script and tell my sister, 'Read this line. I'm going to film it.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-sink/since-when-i-was-little-i-would-always-write-a-script-and-tell-my/) [Sadie Sink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-sink/) > [“Good horror is written by people who understand that fear is one of the cardinal passageways into the core of humanity. Good horror is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-cross/good-horror-is-written-by-people-who-understand-that-fear-is-one-of/) [Alistair Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-cross/) > [“Surely the woman had more important things to do than to teach my sister how to read. I was waiting for cookies, for fuck's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gray/surely-the-woman-had-more-important-things-to-do-than-to-teach-my/) [Jack Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gray/) > [An excellent indie horror book with a wholly original premise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-carey/an-excellent-indie-horror-book-with-a-wholly-original-premise/) [Mike Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-carey/) > [“I had one woman come up to me in a bookstore and say, 'You know, everyone told me it was a horror book, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/i-had-one-woman-come-up-to-me-in-a-bookstore-and-say-you-know/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [“I must part with you for my whole life," she read, with horror. "I must begin a new existence amongst strange faces and strange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-must-part-with-you-for-my-whole-life-she-read-with-horror-i-must/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“We always watched horror movies. As a child I remember sitting up into the early hours of the morning watching horror movies with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-echols/we-always-watched-horror-movies-as-a-child-i-remember-sitting-up-into/) [Damien Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-echols/) > [One day I want to write a full-on horror book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bollen/one-day-i-want-to-write-a-full-on-horror-book/) [Christopher Bollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bollen/) ## More by Dorothy Allison > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Simple answers, reductionist politics, are the most prone to compromise, to saying we’re addressing the essential issue and all that other stuff can slide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/simple-answers-reductionist-politics-are-the-most-prone-to-compromise/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [People don't do right because of the fear of God or love of him. You do right because the world doesn't make sense if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/people-don-t-do-right-because-of-the-fear-of-god-or-love-of-him-you/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“I had to say to her that it isn’t just men, and it isn’t just men “like that.” I had to talk to her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-had-to-say-to-her-that-it-isn-t-just-men-and-it-isn-t-just-men-like/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Entitlement, I have told them, is a matter of feeling like we rather than they.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/entitlement-i-have-told-them-is-a-matter-of-feeling-like-we-rather/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Love was something I would not have to worry about - the whole mystery of love, heartbreak songs, and family legends. Women who pined,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/love-was-something-i-would-not-have-to-worry-about-the-whole-mystery/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Behind the story I tell is the one I don't. Behind the story you hear is the one I wish I could make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/behind-the-story-i-tell-is-the-one-i-don-t-behind-the-story-you-hear/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [Hunger makes you restless. you dream about food - not just any food, but perfect food, the best food, magical meals, famous and awe-inspiring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/hunger-makes-you-restless-you-dream-about-food-not-just-any-food-but/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I think I would have died if there hadn't been the women's movement. It gave me a vision that I could do something different,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-think-i-would-have-died-if-there-hadn-t-been-the-women-s-movement/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [People begin to write in order to create what they have not found and, a little bit, to give something back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/people-begin-to-write-in-order-to-create-what-they-have-not-found-and/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [The hardest thing to teach young writers is that it's wonderful to tell your truth. And that's what you should do. But it damn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/the-hardest-thing-to-teach-young-writers-is-that-it-s-wonderful-to/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“The horror of class stratification, racism, and prejudice is that some people begin to believe that the security of their families and communities depends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/the-horror-of-class-stratification-racism-and-prejudice-is-that-some/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I did not begin with craft, I began with strong feelings and worked toward craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-did-not-begin-with-craft-i-began-with-strong-feelings-and-worked/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I think I would have died if there hadn't been the women's movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-think-i-would-have-died-if-there-hadn-t-been-the-women-s-movement-2/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Both of us had grown up believing that being beaten is normal, that being backhanded is ordinary, that being called names is a regular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/both-of-us-had-grown-up-believing-that-being-beaten-is-normal-that/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) [Explore all 189 Dorothy Allison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was growing up, I always read horror books, while my sister read romance novels. 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