Tonight I was a giver. I gave books on World Book Night. The
book I gave was WILD by Cheryl Strayed.
About Cheryl Strayed, Ursula Hegi says:
"In language that's lyrical and
haunting, Cheryl Strayed writes about bliss and loss, about the kind of grace
that startles and transforms us in ordinary moments."
I must meet Cheryl, as
I have met Wally and Anne and other amazing people, who can put words on paper
better than I, and make magic.
Giving books to people, and explaining they are free, has a
remarkable effect. At one point we were surrounded by girls, whose ages were 16
and 17 and all clamored to get a copy. How could I refuse? I made them promise
to form a book club. I should have thought to give them my business card so
they could report back.
The we of whom I
speak is my granddaughter and I. For the past three years, she has accompanied me on
World Book Night, which serves two purposes. She is willing to carry my extra
books and she is soaking up
experience. Tonight she was disappointed to the point of anger when a woman we
talked to said she had no interest in reading. My granddaughter is a good
actress and didn't let on that she was completely annoyed, however she marveled that someone could be so thick as to not realize what a gigantic world they are
missing by having absolutely no interest in books!
WILD is an embracing book that made me weep, laugh, shout,
chuckle, chortle, sob and sigh. A movie is being made starring Reese Witherspoon, which I may
or may not see. Sometimes it’s easier for me to hang with my own images.
When we had one book left to give, we walked around until we
approached a young woman at Starbucks. I opened my conversation with “the
author lost her mother when she was 22” and I was handed back words that sent a
waterfall of chills down my spine: “I lost my mom two months ago,” she said. I couldn't
retreat with my offer nor there was much left for me to say. I handed
her WILD and with my hand on her shoulder, said I was so sorry for her loss and
hoped she might find some comfort in the book.
Thanks for reading....
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