Ravenous Readers and other stuff

Oh my god!  I did Christianne’s Ravenous Readers Book Club last night.  What a treat.  These teens were 12-13 and many of them had been going to Christianne’s book clubs for 5,6, 7 years!  Can you imagine?  Reading great books, having interesting in-depth discussions with each other and their parents.  The fact that Christianne’s Lyceum offers this kind of thing.  The closeness that arises. 

And oh my, all of us, talking about Porcupine, Jack, Afghanistan, life choices.  Why a parent would do what Jack’s mom did?  Such insights.  Such smart kids.  So articulate.  And how fun that they had all READ porcupine.  The kind of discussion their knowledge of the book can open up, takes the Author visit thing to a whole deeper level.

The very first question one of the teen boys asked is, “Does it really work?  That getting out of a headlock thing that Jack teaches her little brother?”
“Oh yeah, it works all right.”
“Will you show me how to do it?”
“Absolutely!” My heart exploding with admiration for his bravery.  Admiration and compassion.
“Now?” His face intent, slightly pale.
“Sure, come on up.” And I showed him.  We went over it several times until he had it down.  I told him to practice.  He needs to get his weight a little lower into the earth.  I wish I could go over it a few more times today, just to make sure he has it well and truly down pat.

Another girl there had come to my book reading.  I remembered her face.  At snack break, she moved her seat so she was sitting right next to me on my left.  Scrunched up between me and her best friend.  I loved that.  For snack one of the mums had brought, not only all these foods that were in the book, but also lit a little wax birthday candle cake and they all sang happy birthday, because Jack’s mum had forgotten hers.  “I cried so much reading your book,” she said.  “It reminded me of my own childhood.  How hard things can be.” And she talked about hope too.  How there are those people or experiences that change us, form and fill us.  Hold out a light. 

Such sweetness filled the room last night.  I felt blessed to be there.  With Christianne and Susan, among these parents and teens.  And that they loved Porcupine so much, made the evening that much better.

Driving home, late at night, the car still crowded with memories of them.  Their faces, things they’d said.

When I got home there was a lovely email from Chuck (Village Books) and reading the things he said, on top of this beautiful night at the Lyceum, made my heart feel like it couldn’t contain anymore happiness inside. 

I opened his second email.  It had a link to his blog about the night, which was really lovely, but even better, he told me about booksense.com.  I looked it up On-line and I can’t even tell you how excited I got!  I was really struggling this summer when we were putting the website together because I wanted to have buttons to click on for my favorite Independent Bookstore but I couldn’t put Village Books or Bolen Books or one of other bookstores that I love so much because they are local, not national.

I believe passionately in supporting our local Independent Booksellers.  I can’t tell you how sad I am to see them being squashed out.  It seems every month I hear of another Independent closing their doors.  Stores that I read Gemma in last year, are no longer operating. 

If you are like me, and love wandering into these places, browsing, having a personal relationship with the staff and appreciate their love and knowledge of books, then you are going to love learning about booksense.com as well.  This way, if you are someone who likes doing their shopping On-line, or you are house bound, you can still help your neighbourhood store survive if you want to buy the books on your Christmas list for family and friends On-line.

If you live in the U.S. check it out! booksense.com As a matter of fact, don’t just check it out.  Do all your Christmas shopping!  Because with book sales dropping, we need to do everything possible to help these wonderful bookstores survive.  Thanks! 
Love, Meg

Posted by Meg Tilly on Thursday, November 29, 2007 in Chewing the Fat

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