by Kim Van Sickler
Lately I had the incredible experience of sharing a book I love with my local critique group, my husband, AND my two children, ages 21 and 15. Whoa! That's a lot of sharing! Experiencing a moving story together is, I feel, a deep bonding experience. It's an event that transcends age and lifestyles, bringing people closer in a shared appreciation of something beautiful.
The book was The Perks of Being a Wallflower. My critique group was incredibly moved by the plight of the main character, Charlie, and thought the mode of storytelling, through a series of letters Charlie wrote, was a literary stroke of genius. Our discussion moved into the realm of mental illness and sexual abuse, weighty topics, and the sensitive way the author dealt with them.
My daughter, liking the trailer she saw for the movie and thinking the pocket-size of the book looked inviting rather than intimidating, decided to read it before we saw the movie together. Being a ninth-grader herself, she treasured Charlie, appreciating his sensitivity, and wanted him for her friend.
When we watched the movie together, along with my husband, we laughed and cried. I was thankful to have people who loved Charlie as much as I did to share the experience with.
The next evening, my son stopped by during his Spring Break from college to visit, and I watched the movie again with him. He was pleasantly surprised that the movie wasn't as "mushy" as he thought it would be and was moved by Charlie's circumstances. "You really have to root for him," he said. We discussed the letter-writing format of the book and I read the opening page to him. This is the same child I used to read the early Harry Potter books to (before he took them from me and read them on his own) and Goosebumps, and Crispin. In his college life that I'm sure he feels I can't relate to, it was a chance for us to reconnect.
Never underestimate the power of a good story.
Awesome everyone was touched by the book. Sometimes I get a book my daughter and I are both dying to read and we share reading it. It's fun.
ReplyDeleteLast night my daughter showed me all of the Logan Lerman photos she's downloaded to her phone. She's a huge fan since watching his riveting portrayal of Charlie in Perks. Another bonding moment!
DeleteI love bonding over books with my family. The last book that worked for everyone was the Hunger Games. It's hard to find something that my teen sons and 20-something daughter like, but everyone saw Perks and loved it so might try the book.
ReplyDeleteHunger Games, yes!!!!! And the other two books in the trilogy too. We're all anticipating the Catching Fire movie. The Lightening Thief book in the Percy Jackson series was one I shared with my stepson and then enjoyed the movie with him and some other family members. The second Percy Jackson movie is due out in August. And isn't it interesting that Logan Lerman is the star of that movie franchise too. My daughter's newfound interest in him just might get her to read that series!
DeleteRULES was a book my daughters & I shared. The subject of special needs in this book is one close to our hearts.
ReplyDeleteWhen books can comfort and give direction to families, as well as entertain, that is truly special.
DeleteThat sounds like a special family bonding experience!
ReplyDeleteIt reinforces the power of the written word!
How lovely to bond over it as a family!
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