“Charity begins at home.” This age-old saying resonates deeply with me, especially when it comes to fostering a love for reading. So, when I was invited to lead the Book Club in my residential community, I embraced the opportunity wholeheartedly. While I’ve been nurturing a passion for reading in children through my books under the LitJoys brand, there’s no greater joy than inspiring this love within my own community.

Celebrating Father’s Day with a Unique Book Club Session

For our inaugural session, I chose Father’s Day as the perfect occasion to reflect on the importance of appreciating those around us—not just on special days, but every day. Wanting to break away from the typical book club format, I invited three speakers, representing a wide range of ages and experiences—from 8 to 80.

One of our speakers, a young woman, shared a heartfelt poem about her childhood memories with her father, who passed away prematurely. Her words beautifully captured the bittersweet nostalgia of growing up with and then without a father. Next, a grandfather in our community spoke about the challenge of instilling the right values in children from an early age through books, highlighting how literature can shape young minds.

The highlight for me, however, was my 8-year-old son’s contribution. He spoke about how his relationship with his father grew stronger through their shared love of reading, especially with fun comics like Tintin and Asterix. Hearing him express his joy in bonding with his father over books was a truly proud moment.

A Community United by Stories and Memories

What made the session even more special was the audience’s involvement. Many members came forward to share their own reading journeys and cherished memories with their fathers, along with words of appreciation. It was a heartwarming experience that reinforced the power of books to connect us across generations.

This session marked the beginning of what I hope will be a series of meaningful book club meetings in our community. By encouraging everyone to share their stories and perspectives, we can continue to foster a culture of reading, appreciation, and connection.

Join Us in Our Journey

If you’re passionate about building a love for reading within your community, we’d love to hear your ideas and experiences. Let’s create more moments where we come together, not just as book lovers, but as a community that values the simple joys of shared stories.