Children need art and stories and poems and music as much as they need love and food and fresh air and play. If you don’t give a child food, the damage quickly becomes visible. If you don’t let a child have fresh air and play, the damage is also visible, but not so quickly. If you don’t give a child love, the damage might not be seen for some years, but it’s permanent. But if you don’t give a child art and stories and poems and music, the damage is not so easy to see. It’s there, though. Their bodies are healthy enough; they can run and jump and swim and eat hungrily and make lots of noise, as children have always done, but something is missing. It’s true that some people grow up never encountering art of any kind, and are perfectly happy and live good and valuable lives,…
“Books are a uniquely portable magic.” – Stephen King I’m a book club veteran. What better way to hang out and talk about books you’ve read along with eating and drinking wine? ‘Course those are the best kinds of book clubs. I’ve been in ones where the members cannot agree on what to read, pick books that are entirely too long (I’m sorry I cannot read Kafka on the Shore which is 505 pages. I simply do not have that kind of time.), meet for too lengthy a session, or members don’t regularly attend. My current club is one I’ve been a member of for about 5 years. It’s a mix of moms who stay at home, work full-time, part-time, and all very involved with their kids and communities. We meet monthly on a consistent Wednesday night. Rotate hostesses and bring food and wine. Everyone is very good about showing…