Day 1: Reading to Live Well

Reading really does make you feel better, especially when it’s shared, and one of the main purposes of Day 1 was to explore this topic with a variety of professionals from public, private, and third sector organisations. Our Get Into Reading groups read aloud together in places ranging from care homes, GP surgeries, libraries, schools, community centres, in-patient mental healthcare settings, and prisons, improving wellbeing and providing stability, support, and a love of literature for their members. The day consisted of a mix of general plenary sessions complemented by breakout sessions focusing on a particular area of The Reader Organisation’s work.

Charlotte, Reader-in-Residence at Liverpool Hope University, highlights one of her top moments:

“‘The Consequences of Reading’, in which TRO Director Jane Davis spoke to Professor Jonathan Rose about his book ‘The Intellectual Life of the British Working Classes; was without a doubt one of my favourite parts of the first day of the conference. It was brilliant to see Jane in such enthusiastic conversation with a person who is clearly a personal hero of hers, and whose book has meant so much to her. I thought it was really important that the session felt like a conversation, and was fairly informal, rather than a typical ‘lecture’ or formal Q&A session.

As an English graduate myself, I found it incredibly interesting hearing Jonathan speak about his views on the responsibility of the academic to address the over-theoretical approach to literature in education environments in modern times. He commented that, 50 years ago, English was one of the most popular subjects at university, but that in recent times there has been a significant ‘falling-off’, and that he saw the cause of this to be the de-personalisation of literature, and lack of focus on the role of the reader. I was very interested by Jonathan’s comment that he saw it as his duty to put ‘the reader first and foremost in literary history: they are the one who gives the book individuality and agency – ‘they make it do something.’

Towards the end of the conversation, Jane and Jonathan spoke about the fact that there is not much opportunity given to children in society now to listen to a story over a long period of time. ‘Story times’ in schools tend to focus more on short snatches of reading, in which the child is asked to look for specific things, and feed-back on afterwards. Jonathan commented that he saw it as incredibly important that we don’t necessarily ‘ask for something in return’ when we read to a child – that we should let the story wash over them, and sink-in over time.”

Our twitter hashtag for the Conference, #TRO2012, also prompted an enthusiastic response from the audience:

#TRO2012 if only every GP could see what Dr Iona Heath can see. (@TriciaCanning)

#TRO2012 Inspirational stuff yesterday & such enthusiastic staff, would love to see it rolled out in our organisation (@OT_LisaB)

#TRO2012 CRILS – Entertaining, informing and challenging – the best presentation by academics I have ever seen (@devonbiker)

The knowledge of the speakers and the passion displayed by everyone both on stage and off was truly inspirational. Exhausted, but elated, we geared up for Friday…

Day 2: Living to Read Well

This day was exclusively designed for people who had completed our Read to Lead training and are practising as Shared Reading Facilitators. Day 2 was therefore a combination of practical sessions on reading aloud and choosing material, problem solving and literary masterclasses. Equally valuable was the opportunity to meet and catch-up with other Shared Reading Facilitators from around the UK and beyond, providing encouragement and advice on this challenging but rewarding practice.

Credit Steve Wasserman, http://readmesomethingyoulove.com

Undoubtedly, the highlight of the day for many was Lemn Sissay in conversation with Jane Davis. An advocate for Looked After Children, young people with whom The Reader Organisation also works closely, he was by turns hilarious and heart-breaking, as Michael, our Events and Publications Intern, explains:

“There was a great deal of hype surrounding Lemn Sissay’s conversation with Jane.  An expectant audience had heard a lot about this

c.Helen Kielt

charismatic writer and, I have to say, he didn’t disappoint.  What could be added to Lemn’s already extensive list of job titles (including: poet, playwright, social commentator) is performer. His energy on stage kept us on the edge of our seats, whilst his anecdotes had us laughing and murmuring our agreement in equal amounts.

But what shone through most was Lemn’s passion for children and the effect great literature can have on their minds and their lives. ‘Books open up a free space inside a child’s imagination’, Lemn affirmed.  He listed a number of characters from literature who were orphaned at a young age or who grew up in care – Oliver Twist, Harry Potter, Bruce Wayne, Jane Eyre – and argued that it is these characters that should be utilised more effectively to demonstrate to us all just how significant looked-after children are, and the important part they play in our society.”

Twitter was buzzing in response, once again:

Fabulously moving and funny Lemn Sissay #TRO2012 (@HelenKielt)

#TRO2012 what a day! What a day! What a day! What a day! (@RachelNiblock)

train home from @thereaderorg#TRO2012 conference @britishlibrary – words not enough to voice my awe of the past two days. Amazing people.(@ajeastwood)

The impact the conference had on all of us here at The Reader Organisation itself was phenomenal  – we were intellectually stimulated, re-energised and inspired, and hope you were too. The Twitter hashtag is still live, so please continue to voice your thoughts online @thereaderorg.

There’ll be more on the blog in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, roll on 2013…

Here is one of those moments from Liz McGaw, Project Worker for Get Into Reading in the South West:

At the Yeovil Library Memory group we have been reading extracts from Cider with Rosie, with accompanying poems by Seamus Heaney, an unfamiliar poet to the group members. Sometimes faces are pulled when we read more ‘modern’ poets, and the group feels on unfamiliar territory.

Last week the group process beautifully illustrated the theory behind the Get Into Reading model, with the poem linking the feelings arising from the text, to an opening up and a shared understanding of the poems, which we would have otherwise found harder to reach.

We had puzzled over the lines at the end of Seamus Heaney’s poem Sunlight;

and here is love
Like a tinsmith’s scoop
Sunk past its gleam
In the meal bin

The group had been remembering people from their past, and all felt that ‘love’ was the most important word. One member of the group was accompanying his wife for the first time, and surprised both of them by expressing his understanding of the poem. She said, ‘Fifty years married, and I’ve learnt something new about my husband this afternoon’.

The following week we puzzled again over the last line of Heaney’s Personal Helicon. Like the previous week, all was clear until the last verse;

I rhyme To see myself, to set
The darkness echoing

What could it mean? There had been memories shared during the text of going down wells, going to the bottom and fishing around in the darkness, and remembering smells and textures.

We thought that the poet was writing to recall for himself and bring out his memories from the darkness, just as the group had done during the reading of the text. One man wrote in the comments book;

I didn’t realise how much of my childhood I can recall. Most edifying.

He had stopped us whilst we were reading to express his amazement at the variety of stories and memories the group had shared around the table, whilst reading Laurie Lee.

A collective understanding of this last verse was shared by everyone, as buried memories echoed around the table, and my image of the previous weeks poem was of a hand plunging into a bran tub ‘like a tinsmith’s scoop’ and bringing out a hidden prize.

We read again, ‘I rhyme To see myself, to set the darkness echoing’, and there were smiles and nods around the table. We decided that whatever the poet meant by these lines, we knew and could share our understanding of them, and that the poem echoed the group’s own personal discoveries brought out of the darkness. The poems had expressed for the group the experience of digging up these buried memories, and delighted them.

For more ‘wow moments’ and testimonials about the impact of Get Into Reading from group members themselves, visit our website.

One of the official Olympic poets for 2012, Lemn is also associate artist at the Southbank Centre and was awarded an MBE in 2010. He recently became a patron of The Reader Organisation and will be appearing on the panel discussing ‘Literature and Children’s Wellbeing’ on Day One. As someone who spent 17 years growing up in the care system, Lemn is passionate about improving the lives of Looked After Children through initiatives such as our own Get Into Reading project.

He will also be appearing in conversation with TRO’s Jane Davis at Day Two of our conference, a day exclusively designed for those who have completed our Read to Lead training.

Here’s a preview of his thoughts:

What is the last book you read that moved you?

A Love Letter from a Stray Moon by Jay Griffiths

Why are you interested in what The Reader Organisation does?

The Reader Organisation releases the true life changing power of the intimate act of reading. 

To hear more from Lemn Sissay and our work with young people, book your place now for The Reader Organisation’s National Conference, 17th-18th May 2012, British Library, London. Visit our website to register and for more details about the programme.

This week’s star is Erwin James, writer and journalist, who also happens to be one of our new patrons. Erwin, a former prisoner, believes that reading and education changed his life, and today he is best known for his Guardian columns and his contributions to the debate on the role of prisons in our society.

He is appearing at our National Conference, 17-18th May, in a panel discussion on ‘Why Shared Reading Works in Criminal Justice Settings’, providing a unique personal perspective on the issues involved.

Here’s what he had to say when we caught up with him recently:

What is the last book you read that moved you?

‘Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self’ by Claire Tomalin, an exquisite insight into a complex life. By the end of the book I felt I knew this man so well, I felt that Tomalin’s almost forensic narrative had allowed me the privilege of sharing his life’s trials. 

Why are you interested in what The Reader Organisation does?

TRO promotes and encourages reading as a shared rather than a solitary experience. Most of my reading I’ve done in forced isolation, but when I was able to read with others and share and discuss what we had read, I found I got so much more out of a book. It’s for that reason especially that I am interested in the work of TRO.

To hear more from Erwin, as well as all our other exciting speakers, come along to The Reader Organisation’s 3rd Annual National Conference, 17-18th May, British Library, London. For information on which day is for you, and how to book your place, visit our website.

The conference is always eagerly anticipated by staff, volunteers and those who have completed our training: this year, the support of our commissioners and patrons is also strongly in evidence. Our panel discussions (the full listings are available on our website for Day One and Day Two) will involve key people who are funding our work and patrons who passionately believe in the benefits of what we do, alongside our own staff who make it all happen, week in, week out.

To give you a sense of the range of voices on each panel, the “Why Shared Reading Works in Criminal Justice Settings” will involve one of TRO’s newest author-patrons, Erwin James, Dr Jude Robinson of the University of Liverpool, and commissioner Maggie Roy, alongside TRO staff Alexis McNay and Amanda Brown. Erwin James is a writer and Guardian columnist, for whom he began writing on criminal justice issues while a serving prisoner. While serving a twenty year sentence, he developed an interest in reading and education, which he credits with changing his life. Jude Robinson is Reader in the Anthropology of Health and Illness in the Dept of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology in the University of Liverpool. She is currently involved in a research project in HMP Low Newton on “Reading with Women in Prison”. Maggie Roy is a Service Manager with Central London Community Healthcare’s Offender Healthcare, based in HMP Wormwood Scrubs. Alexis McNay is TRO Reader-in-Residence in HMP Liverpool. He currently hosts Get into Reading groups in the healthcare and vulnerable prisoners’ wings; the session will be chaired by Amanda Brown, TRO’s Criminal Justice Manager.

Full details for each session will be available from Tuesday 3 April; in the meantime, booking information can be found on our website (cheque/invoice) and our dedicated Eventbrite site (online payment).

Tickets are now on sale for The Reader Organisation’s 3rd annual National Conference dedicated to sharing the message of our Reading Revolution: reading aloud together for pleasure.

Day One: Reading to Live Well
Thursday 17th May, 9am-5pm
Day Delegate Rate: £199

The first day of the conference is an information day aimed at commissioners, funders, and potential partners who want to understand ‘how’ and ‘why’ Get Into Reading works.

Highlights include:

• Dr Iona Heath, President of the Royal College of General Practioners, will be giving a keynote address on ‘Imagining the Patient: Literature and Medicine’
• Professor Jonathan Rose, a specialist historian on the book and reading at Drew University, in conversation with Jane Davis

More details about the programme and information about how to book your place are available on our website.

Day Two: Living to Read Well
Friday 18th May, 9.30am-5pm
Discounted day delegate rate: £99

*EXCLUSIVELY FOR SHARED READING FACILITATORS (those who have completed our Read to Lead training courses)*

This second (half price!) day is just for TRO trained facilitator. Highlights include:

• Award-winning poet Lemn Sissay in conversation with Jane Davis
• Practical sessions and masterclasses from TRO staff. 

More details about Day Two’s programme and how to book your place can be found on our website.

TEDx is a programme of local self-organised events created by TED in order to make sure that people everywhere can experience ‘ideas worth spreading’ from the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers. TEDXObserver is taking place in Sadler’s Well’s, London, this coming Saturday 10th March, but the talks will be simulcast to a number of regional events which will also feature exclusive talks of their own.

Jane will be appearing at the Bluecoat in Liverpool, delivering a talk on ‘The Social Importance of Reading’, alongside TRO patron Frank Cottrell-Boyce, astrophysicist Robert Simpson, Roy Boulter and Sol Papadopoulos of Hurricaine Films. The event will be hosted by Tim Adams, staff writer on The Observer.

Tickets for Saturday cost £10, including lunch, and are available here.

The actor and director David Morrissey is interviewed about being the dark and ‘locked in’ Bradley Headstone in the television adaptation of Dickens’ Our Mutual Friend, a role he reprised in December for our Penny Readings here in Liverpool. He also talks about playing Macbeth in the Everyman theatre and his how his childhood love of libraries continues to this day.

 There are two unsettling new short stories by Drummond Bone (late of the University of Liverpool) and Olivia McCannon; and a rattlebug of beautiful, bite-size poems by Carolyn Waudby, Sean Elliott and Richie McCaffery. Have you ever read a poem that actually looks like a tiny little bird, hopping among the hedgerows? Mark Leech’s ‘As a Wren’ embodies this precious, tough little thing –its trilling and peeping come alive when you read this poem aloud.

As ever, tales from The Reader Organisation give much to think on: Casi Dylan on the balance and play between prose and poetry in Get Into Reading groups; Beverley Laroc and Eleanor Stanton’s discussion on reading with older people and the place of libraries in the current climate; Lynn Elsdon on harnessing technology via TRO’s first online Evening Read-In (the second, reading Kafka’s Metamorphosis, starts 8^th March); and Natalie Evans’ elegant thought-piece on reading Theodore Dreiser’s Sister Carrie and its prescience to her and, more broadly, today’s youth unemployment crisis.

And that’s not all: Monday’s Featured Poem here on the blog will be from this issue’s ‘Poet on His Work’ – the wonderful and insightful Bernard O’Donoghue.  Pop back on Monday for this tantalising taster, or, better yet, get ahead of the game and subscribe now!

This is the fifth annual conference on ”Book and Publishing Studies“ organised by boek.be (the umbrella organisation for the Flemish book trade) and the Department of Library and Information Studies at the University of Antwerp. It aims to educate those in the book industry, including students, academics, and professionals, about essential current trends.

Jane’s lecture is entitled “The Social Importance of Reading” and explores the premise that only books allow us to truly understand the human experience, as well as providing a sense of belonging which is crucial to the development of society.

Online registration has closed but you can find out more here (non-Dutch speakers can click here to read google’s handy, if not 100% reliable, translation).

Jane’s vision, to create a world where everyone has the opportunity to develop a love of reading and to share their experiences, has seen her build up a charity which now employs 60 staff members, across the UK, and offers a lifeline for hundreds of people, simply by reading aloud together.

On receiving the award, Jane said:

“It’s great to be seen as a radical; it’s so easy to take books and reading for granted. Reading aloud is an experience in its own right, bringing people together through sharing deep experiences. Since my teaching days, I’ve worked to take books to where they are not always found, bringing people together in care homes, prisons, hospitals, schools, libraries, community centres, supermarkets and corporate board rooms. ”

So, what next? She’d like to see the successful Get Into Reading model adopted as standard practice in the NHS, care homes and libraries, enabling them to do more to meet social and individual needs for the twenty-first century.

Our team of interns entered Jane for the competition, run by NESTA and The Observer, by creating a video to showcase her ethos, leadership, and delicious cooking, which you can watch here:

To find out more about Jane, why not visit her blog, follow her on Twitter, or read her essay explaining how The Reading Revolution came into being in Stop What You’re Doing and Read This!