The Queens United Federation of Teachers invited PS244Q TALES Parent Book Club to make a presentation at its culminating event on May 12, 2015. We were one of 18 public elementary and middle schools to present that day.
In our sophomore year of PS244Q TALES Parent Book Club, we read some heart-tugging stories including The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman, The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes and Goodnight June by Sarah Jio. The common thread in these stories is the choices people make.
In our sophomore year of PS244Q TALES Parent Book Club, we read some heart-tugging stories including The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman, The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes and Goodnight June by Sarah Jio. The common thread in these stories is the choices people make.
In 1930's Prague, how does Lenka from The Lost Wife make the choice to stay with her parents and sister instead of going with her husband Josef?
In 1916 France, how far does Sophie from The Girl You Left Behind go to save her family and later her husband Edouard? In 2006 London, how far does Liv go to save a disputed painting?
In 2005 Seattle, how does June from Goodnight June decide between her job and her mother's legacy of the bookstore? In 1946 Seattle, how does Ruby decide to give up her daughter?
Our group had many emotional discussions after reading these books because choice is something many of us feel limited by, especially in our East Asian and Southeast Asian cultures where our choices are often dictated by our spouses, children, parents and elders.
Is this choice expected of us? Is this the choice someone else wants from us? Will this choice lead to a better outcome for our loved ones? Will this choice hurt anyone? Could we live with the end result from this choice?
What we learned from our talks is that choice doesn’t have to be a heavy burden. It is putting one foot in front of the other and stepping firmly onto the path you have chosen to take at a particular moment in time. You are uncertain where this path might lead you but you know you can’t just stand there so you move forward.
Choosing to be part of a book club really opens your mind and heart and starts a dialogue with others. We enjoy the camaraderie that has developed because of our book club. We appreciate the members in full dimension through our personal exchanges. Without the catalyst of a book club, we wouldn’t have been able to see beyond the surface of some extraordinary people and we truly believe that a book club is the sum of all its parts.
A book club could be the best choice you make for yourself. When you move beyond the text and make meaningful connections, watch what grows out of it. You may be surprised all the places you’ll go with good friends and even better conversations.
Is this choice expected of us? Is this the choice someone else wants from us? Will this choice lead to a better outcome for our loved ones? Will this choice hurt anyone? Could we live with the end result from this choice?
What we learned from our talks is that choice doesn’t have to be a heavy burden. It is putting one foot in front of the other and stepping firmly onto the path you have chosen to take at a particular moment in time. You are uncertain where this path might lead you but you know you can’t just stand there so you move forward.
Choosing to be part of a book club really opens your mind and heart and starts a dialogue with others. We enjoy the camaraderie that has developed because of our book club. We appreciate the members in full dimension through our personal exchanges. Without the catalyst of a book club, we wouldn’t have been able to see beyond the surface of some extraordinary people and we truly believe that a book club is the sum of all its parts.
A book club could be the best choice you make for yourself. When you move beyond the text and make meaningful connections, watch what grows out of it. You may be surprised all the places you’ll go with good friends and even better conversations.
Write up and photos submitted by Karen Lee
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