Magic Mirrors: Exploring Living Books

 

Here is a  living book that I am reading with my 12-year-old daughter.  It is my second time through and this truly is a living book by the wonderful author, Elizabeth Yates. Prudence was a  schoolteacher in Connecticut in 1833 who dared to open a school for young black girls who wanted an education.  It's one of those books that spark relations with all sorts of things that you weren't expecting to learn about.  As early as page 12 one finds Prudence wrestling all night with her conscience - a passage worth remembering when experiencing things not nearly as monumental as Prudence experienced. This is an outstanding example of someone governed by their will on the right side of the chart!.

Prudence Crandall - Woman of Courage by Elizabeth Yates - highly recommend!

This quote from Charlotte is one of my favorites and encompasses another quote I am fond of -
"The glory of God is the human being fully alive" - St. Irenaeus. Thinking about great literature - and living books in particular - was an activity we did at the Rochester Gathering a few weeks ago.  We examined many passages from Charlotte and then wrote our own narration definitions.  Here are some beautiful examples:

personal definitions of a living book

"A living book breathes the life of a person or story directly into your heart.  One does not get bogged down in that they are learning per se, but rather enters into that author's life, story, or expertise. A living book often leaves you desiring to know and learn more about things introduced in the book."
 - Amy V.

"A living book is sustainable food for our minds and souls. It makes us dig, grapple, and contemplate the Truth, rather than handing it to us in a sound byte or neat packagge. A living book puts us into relationship with God and/or others in a life-changing way." - T.F.

"A living book uses rich language. We must choose books wisely, like our friends. Living books connect us, mind-to-mind with great thinkers and great ideas. They nourish and sustain us, mind and spirit.  It's important that we do not spoon feed our children. The things they will retain, are the things they dig for themselves." - Shauna M.

Aren't those good?!  I hope you are reading many living books this school year. I found these other books about Prudence while looking about but haven't read them yet.  I wonder how the writing in these will compare to Elizabeth Yate's skillful pen?

Warmly,
Nancy