We need to tell stories to each other about who we are, why we are, where we come from, and what might be possible. – Alan Rickman
During these difficult times, spending quiet times exploring the written word has had additional meaning for many of us. Two years ago, a diverse group of individuals came together to explore experiences found in books and share occurrences from our own lives. Throughout this period of time, we have added new voices and shared goodbyes with several of our members. But through it all, the voices we have heard have opened new conversations and created special memories.
In May of 2018, the monthly selection was The Necklace: Thirteen Women and the Experiment that Changed Their Lives by Cheryl Jarvis. The fascinating story told of a group of women who pooled their funds and bought an extremely expensive diamond necklace. Each month, one of the women would have the joy of wearing the jewelry. The tome shared their experiences and raised questions about the collaborative endeavor from thirteen different perspectives.
The members of the book club met the end of that May at Overman Park to discuss their own perspectives about the idea of this innovative shared experience. Each of us brought a necklace to share that had a special personal story. The afternoon was filled with glittering baubles and ancient stories of heirloom gifts or special memories. An added benefit is that one of the members in searching for her special necklace that was gifted from her sister found a $100 bill that had been overlooked when the gift was first received. Seek and ye shall find…
With Joy,
– Ana Donaldson
The book club meets monthly on the last Monday of the month at 4:45 p.m. Currently the group meets via Zoom and will meet outside when the weather gets nice again. Here is a list of the 2021 monthly book selections. If you are interested in joining the book club email info@rootedcarrot.coop.