Reading Circle - Gather / COPY 5

by Richard Van Camp

Paperback, 2021

Status

Available

Call number

808.5 V36 2021 c. 5

Call number

808.5 V36 2021 c. 5

Collection

Description

"Stories are medicine. During a time of heightened isolation, this bestselling author shares what he knows about the power of storytelling--and offers some of his own favourite stories from Elders, friends, and family. Gathering around a campfire, or the dinner table, we humans have always told stories. Through them, we define our identities and shape our understanding of the world. Master storyteller and bestselling author Richard Van Camp writes of the power of storytelling and its potential to transform speakers and audiences alike. In Gather, Van Camp shares what elements make a compelling story and offers insights into basic storytelling techniques, such as how to read a room--even on Zoom--and how to capture the attention of listeners. And he delves further into the impact storytelling can have, helping readers understand how to create community and how to banish loneliness through their tales. A member of the Tlicho Dene First Nation, Van Camp also includes stories from Elders whose wisdom influenced him. During a time of uncertainty and disconnection, stories reach across vast distances to offer connection. Gather is a joyful reminder of this for storytellers: all of us."--… (more)

Publication

University of Regina Press (2021), 162 pages

Original publication date

2021

Original language

English

Language

User reviews

LibraryThing member juniperSun
This is not what I expected, but pretty good anyway. For some reason I thought this would be a collection of stories--and it does have several modern examples of stories told within the First Nations community. Primarily, however, this is a book encouraging us all to collect stories from our elders
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and community, and to pass them on, to become storytellers ourselves. VanCamp has an entire section on storytelling tips, with each tip building on the previous one. He also promotes the importance of community, supporting each other.
I really appreciated VanCamp's sincerity in supporting and improving the lives of all people. I read this aloud to my son, and he calls it the "Miracle Storybook". It's true, there are stories of miracles happening in our lives, if we choose to become aware of them.
This is obviously a book written during the recent pandemic, with references to how we stay connected when we can't easily meet in person, and counteracting the feelings of isolation.
Some of the storytelling recordings made by VanCamp have been posted online. I took the time to listen to one, and think of how meaningful it is for a person's story to be made available for all their relatives, and the larger world community (online posting done with permission of the teller.)
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ISBN

0889777004 / 9780889777002

Barcode

59780889777002
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