Celia Gurevitch Jewish Community Library

Yesterday was the first time I ever participated in a book club discussion group. It was a great experience. The thirteen of us started off with toasting (with apple-cider) the newly elected president-elect, Barack Obama, whose book, Dreams from my father, a story of race and inheritance we discussed. In the excited and elevated atmosphere it was impossible to disassociate the book from its context. Therefore we mixed personal reflections on the book and its author with political observations.

As we went around the circle every one of us had something to say, what touched them personally in the book. Unfortunately I did not make notes, thus I cannot recall most of what was said. I was impressed though with the attention every reader devoted to the work and the variety of astute observations they made in the circle. I also felt honored sitting at such a historic moment in the midst of elders whose rich history included being a civil rights activists, having grown up in an area covered in the book, or having lived in the neighborhood where Mr. Obama lives now. It truly made the day more historic for me.

I appreciated Sylvia Sucher’s facilitation of the discussion, research and reading of reviews at the end of our meeting.

Looking forward to our next gathering on December 3 about Meir Shalev’s A Pigeon and a Boy.