In his book The Seven Basic Plots, Christopher Booker suggests there are seven ‘core’ plots that most stories follow: a journey taken and the return, overcoming challenges, making our way in the world, a quest, comedy, tragedy, and rebirth. -Lori Stone (CLF)
Have you ever wondered in what section of the library you would find the story of your life, and what restructuring you might do to re-shelve your story?
I have many friends for whom this time of year means the chance to escape into ridiculous and predictable holiday romance movies. While the casts are more and more diverse, the stories are simple and formulaic. And this allows folks just to turn off their brain and live in another space for a little while. Sometimes that’s the point of a good story. -Michael Tino (CLF)
What stories allow you to escape for a little while?
Does anyone else remember the SRA reading program? Every class in my elementary school had a box of multi-leveled reading materials produced by Science Research Associates. You would independently read a “card” of fiction or non-fiction and after answering a few questions, you could move yourself to the next level. I only pretended to read those stories. I was too embarrassed to reveal my slower-than-slow reading pace. I would promote myself to the next level, even though I was clueless. I hated that box of stories; but my younger sister devoured them. Although I was always so afraid in the classroom, all was well at night. My sister would remember those stories and retell them to me in the quiet dark as we drifted off to sleep. -Beth Murray (CLF)
When has a loved one told you special stories and made things better?
Thanksgiving is a time when relatives gather. We share stories with the younger members, There are usually peaceful about not reminding the older folks that they’ve heard that story before–like they enjoy hearing the tales of Nono selling fresh turkeys in his store, stacked high in wooden crates and sawdust, not grocery store plastic. They enjoy the story of creamed onions that grandma made year after year and no one would eat, And the year Carter was president she made Rosalynn’s recipe with peanuts on top of the creamed onions. I think it completes the picture of relatives now gone . We retell the story of wine spilled all over the table. The stories are a bond that we all share even though it was many years ago. Family storytelling for us seems to be a holiday ritual. -Judy DiCristofaro (CLF)
What are the stories the elders in your life passed down to you?
Every time my child complains about reading homework, I remind her that reading opens doorways to new worlds. Stories invite us to open our imaginations and teach us that something else might be possible if we can dream it. -Michael Tino (CLF)
When has a story transported you through a doorway to a new world?
