Monday, November 26, 2007

A Book Worth Reading


Listening is an Act of Love, a fabulous book that should be required reading.

The book is an offset of the StoryCorps Project, which begin with the idea that everyone has a story. Mobile recording booths travelled America, capturing the memories of people from all walks of life.

Stories of love, forgiveness, redemption, fortitude – defining moments that determine the course of one's life.

I come from a long line of story tellers, so this book reminded me of many a family dinner. Shortly before my grandmother died, I videotaped a conversation with her. Recollections of her life – how she met my grandfather while picking cotton – how sad she still felt about her sister Maddie’s death – the highs and lows of her life.
Most people no longer live close to their families, which might explain why so many of us feel the urge to blog. The need to connect and share the human experience.

3 comments:

Maggy and Me - said...

Totally agree - there will always be the need to connect, listen, empathize, commiserate, encourage and celebrate. Also to express in a creative way. And to share wisdom, experience, funny anecdotes and good reads. No matter how far technology evolves, we will always find (and need) a way to reach out. It's very cool.

Dil said...

Sounds good! Especially in this day and age of having a conversation with one person while text messaging another, while driving! Stop and listen to each other people!!! I think we're all so worried about missing something that we miss everything!!

Chris said...

You should read some of the books of Studs Terkel (no I'm not making up that name).

He is about 95 years old and is one of the few oral historians...which comes across in his writings.


My favorite book of his is called "Will the Circle be Unbroken?"

CF