Patty Dugoni doesn’t remember too many specific reading moments with her son, legal thriller writer Robert Dugoni, but as the mother of 10, who can blame her? She does fondly recall family trips to the library (admittedly as much for her benefit as her children’s) and her budding novelist whipping through the classics in his early years.
Did you read to your son as a child? What did you read?
I’m laughing because Bob is one of 10 children and there were times I was so busy just surviving those days with all of them that I blanked out some of the little automatic things you do as a mother. The luxury of reading to little ones wasn’t practical in our house; although I’m sure I did it. But by number five, Bob, I just tried to get all of the homework done, fed and get them all to bed. I sure corrected a lot of papers that were written on the kitchen table.
I wanted my children to be perfect, and when Aileen, my oldest, came along I joined a children’s book club. We had all the Dr. Seuss books as well as the current popular children’s reading books. Later we had the Hardy Boys and the Nancy Drew books. I remember they were on the shelf in the family room. As a bit of a teacher, I knew that if you read well, school would come easier. I still have those books but with so many handlers most of the other books were demolished. I think I gave some of the Hardy Boy books and the Nancy Drew books to some of my grandchildren, but which ones? I have 32 in all.
How old was your son when he started reading?
All of my children read at an appropriate age, except for my youngest, Michael, who was born with Down Syndrome. I did take Michael to the Easton Library for the children’s reading circle. I don’t think that went too well, but he did learn to read in middle school. I would sit on the piano bench waiting for the bus to pick him up, and he would read to me.
Did you have any book or reading rituals in your house? (Examples would be: Going to the library or bookstore together, talking about the books you have read, sharing books, storytime)
My children now tell me I had sayings like “If you’re cold put a sweater on, I’m not heating the neighborhood,” and “If you’re bored, read a book.” Some, like Bob, took it to heart and read a lot of the classics early, like THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA and OF MICE AND MEN. I’d also occasionally take them to the library, but that was probably more to give myself a break!
I think what really encouraged reading in our family were our sojourns to Lake Tahoe for vacations. I remember all of us sitting on the beach with our noses in books. I love to knit so when I discovered books on tape, and I could knit as well as read or at least listen, I was in 7th Heaven.
When did you know your son was going to be a writer?
He always wrote, for as long as I can remember. When Michael was born he wrote a poem about bringing home a special needs child. One of my daughters put it on a plaque with pictures and gave it to me at Christmas. I still have it up on my bedroom wall. Then in high school and college he wrote for the school newspapers and he won several awards and a couple of scholarships for articles. I would occasionally read some of his work. He had a talent, there was no question. He could capture emotion.
After he graduated from law school I told him that if he moved back home, I would support him for a year while he tried to write the novel he was thinking about. But at 25 the lure of living with friends in San Francisco and making money was a lot stronger than moving back home with your mother and father.
Do you read advance copies of your son’s work?
He always sends me an advanced reading copy of his books so I get to read them before they come out.
Do you have a favorite of your son’s books?
I like them all. I remember when I read his first book I kept thinking to myself, “He wrote this. Bobby wrote this.” And I think his latest book, BODILY HARM, really shows his development. I know it’s been a long road for him, but I’ve told him that nothing comes easy.
What kinds of books do you enjoy reading?
I remember as a kid going down to the library on 24th and Valencia Street to get my four books (that’s how many you could take at one time). I read every Frank Baum book available. He wrote all the Oz books. Another favorite was Louisa May Alcott, who wrote LITTLE WOMEN and a flock of wonderful books. They had a nice ground- floor children’s section
My mother used to tell me I would ruin my eyes with so much reading, but I think it was kind of an escape, and I loved it. I remember sitting in the bathroom late at night while everyone was asleep and reading THE AGONY AND THE ECTASY, the story of Michelangelo, hoping my mother wouldn’t catch me.
I started reading the classics in high school. I think I read JANE EYRE three times. GONE WITH THE WIND was another repeat. There wasn’t a lot of time in college for obvious reasons. I fell in love with my husband and we went to every event at the University of San Francisco and Holy Names. God love him, he wasn’t too keen on reading. If a book bored him he’d skip to the end to see how it ended. He did read all the pharmacy manuals, Sports Illustrated, People magazine, Time and Newsweek etc. and of course he used to get three newspapers a day and devoured them.
What authors, besides your son’s books, do you read?
I guess my favorite author is still Rosamund Pilcher. Her son writes now. A close second is Maeve Binchey. There are so many talented writers, they just amaze me. When you are reading a book and you don’t want it to end, you know it’s special.
The use of words to create pictures in readers’ minds is something that always amazes me. You have to be a good story teller as well, and I’m sure there are techniques that can be developed to hone your skills, but there has to be a certain innate talent to start the process rolling. You have to have “what it takes” and I think that is something he has, not the creation of his mother.
Robert Dugoni’s latest novel, BODILY HARM, will be available May 25th wherever books are sold. He is also the author of WRONGFUL DEATH, THE JURY MASTER, DAMAGE CONTROL and THE CYANIDE CANARY.
