Have Your Book and Eat It Too
Wednesday, April 1 is the day of the International Edible Book Festival. This festival was the idea of Judith A. Hoffberg and Béatrice Coron. They decided it would be best celebrated on April 1, "the birthday of French gastronome Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826), famous for his book Physiologie du goût, a witty meditation on food." This event was first celebrated in 2000. The intent was to celebrate and reflect on our cultural differences and our attachment to food by making and eating food that represents books in form, text, or theme.
In the position of Literacy Outreach Coordinator for British Columbia's Fraser Cascade region, I am promoting a local version of the festival. There will be edible books, non edible books and prizes at Pages Book Store in Hope, the Hope Library, and the Boston Bar Library. I'm hoping that we can build on this and make it an even bigger event next year with a literary and food creation extravaganza.
One reason that I latched on to this Edible Book Day idea is that I still experience the magic of opening a book and entering into a different world, just as I did when I first learned to read. I wish that for everyone. My intention is to draw attention to the places where there is an abundant supply of magic and to some of the programs that will help people acquire the skills to draw that magic out from books.
When I was at the Vancouver Writers' and Readers' Festival a few years ago, I heard an author speak on the importance of writing fiction. She said that if done well, the story pulls people in; they become the characters; experience the emotions, crisis, decisions, and culture; and come to understand and empathize. She believes that it will be the entering into the stories that will change our world, eliminate war, and will bring about world peace. I think the walking in someone else's shoes in fiction will encourage participation and connection in our real world. With knowledge, (on emotional and spiritual levels as well as on an intellectual level) comes understanding, with understanding empathy, with empathy cooperation and collaboration.
So let's go out and devour some books. It will make a better world for you and me.
In the position of Literacy Outreach Coordinator for British Columbia's Fraser Cascade region, I am promoting a local version of the festival. There will be edible books, non edible books and prizes at Pages Book Store in Hope, the Hope Library, and the Boston Bar Library. I'm hoping that we can build on this and make it an even bigger event next year with a literary and food creation extravaganza.
One reason that I latched on to this Edible Book Day idea is that I still experience the magic of opening a book and entering into a different world, just as I did when I first learned to read. I wish that for everyone. My intention is to draw attention to the places where there is an abundant supply of magic and to some of the programs that will help people acquire the skills to draw that magic out from books.
When I was at the Vancouver Writers' and Readers' Festival a few years ago, I heard an author speak on the importance of writing fiction. She said that if done well, the story pulls people in; they become the characters; experience the emotions, crisis, decisions, and culture; and come to understand and empathize. She believes that it will be the entering into the stories that will change our world, eliminate war, and will bring about world peace. I think the walking in someone else's shoes in fiction will encourage participation and connection in our real world. With knowledge, (on emotional and spiritual levels as well as on an intellectual level) comes understanding, with understanding empathy, with empathy cooperation and collaboration.
So let's go out and devour some books. It will make a better world for you and me.
posted by Mo at 9:05 AM
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