Join Us at the ABPC Whimsical Book Club!

“Maybe this is why we read, and why in moments of darkness we return to books: to find words for what we already know.” – Alberto Manguel

“I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a book.” – J.K. Rowling

By Cathy Gassenheimer

The idea behind this blogpost has been floating around our virtual office for some weeks now. In my first draft, back in March, I chose the word “whimsy” as a focus. Merrian-Webster defines it as “a fanciful or fantastic device, object, or creation, especially in writing or art.”

More than a month into “sheltering in place,” and after several weeks of remote teaching and learning, I think my original phrasing still holds: We need more whimsy in our lives right now as we’ve been social distancing and trying not to let fear overcome our emotions.

Our teachers and school leaders still face sleepless nights worrying about their students – how well they are faring socially and emotionally and how much kids may be missing as educators try to teach them without being in the same place with them. And many also worry about family and friends in essential jobs – those who are on the front lines of this crisis – to whom we all need to be grateful.

As we enter into a new stage, as the pressure to ease restrictions begins,  we all still need some whimsy!

We’re In This for a While Longer

It looks like some social distancing will be around at least until the beginning of summer and maybe longer. No one can say for sure. So we  still need to pace ourselves. “Slow and steady” is one of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard over these many days.

And I’m thinking, slow and steady plus a bit of whimsy just might be just the ticket to help us get through the next few weeks and months!

So I’m here to share my idea of whimsy: reading books that take my mind to new and different places. You may prefer another diversion – a hands-on craft hobby, or creative cooking, or playing and listening to music. But if you’re a reader, and love to explore new subjects or just enjoy the “suspension of disbelief” that good fiction brings, you may want to participate in what we’re calling our ABPC Whimsical Book Club.

There aren’t many rules, and we’ll be governed by both “slow and steady” and whimsy.

Rules

  • No professional books. Just whimsical books or books you’ve been longing to read or reread. Fiction or nonfiction! Paper, digital, audiobook.
  • No deadlines, no required submissions, no pressure . . .just connections.
  • Everyone reading this is invited to participate (no book marketing please), and no one is “required” to participate. Feel free to invite book-loving colleagues.

Format

To get us started, we invite you to share at least one book that you’ve read that you loved. Provide the author, title, and a “mini-review” of the book (try to keep it to around 100 words). We’re doing this on a dedicated Google Doc, since most all educators now have learned to use them and they are so easy to add to, edit, etc. Don’t worry if things get messy – we’ll tidy up the room from time to time.

Here’s an example to give you an idea of how it might be done. Our ABPC blog editor John Norton did this one. He used a “five-star” rating, like Goodreads does. Your choice! But be sure to put your name and some identifier in parentheses at the end. (Remember he’s a professional writer – you don’t have to be so flashy. 🙂

SONGBIRD by Peter Grainger (4.5 stars)
This new entry in the British crime series about police detective DC Smith continues the story of the Kings Lake constabulary after Smith’s departure. It’s a deep dive into modern everyday life in small-town Britain that emphasizes smart (vs. not-so-smart) police work, ambitious personalities, who-dunnit puzzles, and a dollop of Brit eccentricity. I listened to the audiobook. Pluses: Expert storytelling and 16 hrs. listening for one Audible credit. Minuses: Too slow for lovers of the fast and furious. And the reader is an acquired taste! (John Norton, ABPC)

CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR BOOK SHARING GOOGLE DOC

Let’s See How It Goes…

Right now, we don’t have plans to do a group read and discuss. Instead, we want to share and curate what everyone’s reading (or has read) that they love. Good books can help restore the soul. It’s important for us to nurture ourselves and others during this challenging time. And, even though this is a small gesture, it is a whimsical adventure and might help us escape – at least for some time each day – from our anxieties.

Listen to Cathy and Stoney’s remote chat about the why and how of sharing “whimsical” books!