Welcome to Bookchat! Where you can talk about anything; books, plays, essays, and audio books. You don’t have to be reading a book to come in, sit down, and chat with us.
So, there’s this statewide community reading campaign, and Texas is definitely not the only place that could use it — with the theme of empathy. From the web page for it:
Read Across Texas: Empathy will offer libraries a broad canvas for convening individuals and groups to explore the unique questions, challenges and solidarity that can occur in communities throughout the state. During the recent years of difficulties, division, isolation, and loss, the TCFB recognizes the importance of sharing our stories to build understanding and support. Literature—by definition a way of sharing in a story other than our own—can be one of the many routes to empathy.
The books chosen for the campaign are (links are to an Austin independent bookstore):
I thought about getting Remarkably Bright Creatures, but the waiting list for it at the library is incredibly long (over 400 people). One of my co-workers did a presentation on Voices in the Air, and we had a great discussion. One of her poems ends with: “This is why you must smile at everyone, living and dead, everywhere you go. You have no idea what has been lost in transit.” I really liked that.
So, I started thinking about the different ways reading — either prose or poetry — can engender empathy. Do you think your reading has enhanced your sense of empathy?
There have been studies that show it does. This Discover Magazine article discusses some of the studies, and the different outcomes; it seems literary fiction works best for increasing empathy, as it takes you into the minds of characters.
And this isn’t about empathy, but there was a big event in the world of books last week. Some twitter guy posted about his love for the book This Is How You Lose The Time War, and it really blew up. Like, this book that was published in 2019 is suddenly on the NYT Bestseller list. Here’s a link to the author’s blog talking about the whole fantastic (in both senses) series of events. Anyway — if you love a book, tell people about it. You never know when kismet will strike. (Have I mentioned how very much I love the Mercenary Librarians trilogy? And everything Courtney Milan ever wrote? Devil Comes Courting should be a movie, it’s perfect for now. And dammit, Netflix, Amazon or whoever makes streaming stuff — Tessa Dare’s Spindle Cove series really could be the next Bridgertons)
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