Late this afternoon was the first Bright Lights Book Project Book Share meeting. I did not expect anyone to show up. Five people showed up – this was an excellent number for a first meeting, particularly since I didn’t have time to advertise it. It went amazingly well, with all participating and no one taking up too much time with their own inane ideas.

My book share centered (again) around Jon Katz’s earlier works. This was before he dedicated himself to putting out a very boring daily blog. I just am not into endless photos of flowers because you can’t smell them. These days he’s also enamored with a cat named Zip.

Ryder

I did enjoy his books, back when he was into border collies, and read a passage from The Soul of a Dog. The question then, that I asked the group to consider was, do animals have souls? I do think so, but I wonder if one can believe this if they don’t believe in a higher power. I noted that the best passages in the book are when Katz talks with Henry, a priest, and introduces him to his animals. Katz’s point of view is that Henry seems to think that animals don’t have souls.

The others present shared books they enjoyed – Cathy shared a series of books that inspire critical thinking in kids. Doug read the last will and testament of a dog, Pam talked about a young adult book, and Pete gave a summation of a Damon Runyan story.

All the readers were over 60. And so after, I got to thinking -- those who have been reading their entire lives have a lot to say, and at the same time, a limited audience. Again, this is one of life’s greatest drawbacks, for their insights are well worth pondering. And yet, the older you get, the less appreciative the general public seems to be. I don’t get it.

What I do get is that I am providing a forum for those who want to provide summations of what they’re reading, and as well, share related stories. This is what connects us all. And this, I will argue, is a form of literacy.

It’s going to be a hard sell, but I am going to have to convince those who provide grants to non-profits, and in this case ours, that we are, in hosting such events, broadening the definition of literacy. I can do this; it’s just going to take considerable time and effort.

I never thought that my finding appreciative readers for a handful of books would lead to this. The best that I can do now is keep on keeping on, meaning continuing to build upon what I’m doing. I’d next like to get a journal writing class going. Students can write freewrites in class, then if they wish, share them with other class members.
Zow. This is what I’m going to do next.

Next: 67. 3/9/24: Live and Learn, Learn and Live