Cayce, SC 04/05/2023 - Midlands residents showed up in droves to the recent City of Cayce’s Soiree’ on State, an annual street festival featuring local bands, food trucks, businesses and nonprofits. There was a little something for everyone. One popular interactive nonprofit station even gave folks the chance to list their all-time favorite book.
Turning Pages SC, the state’s oldest adult literacy council, had a booth at the Soiree’ on State inviting attendees to learn more about their free services while asking them one simple question, "What is YOUR favorite book?" The council is best known for providing adults with one hour of free reading tutoring per week and free Curriculum Kits. Their belief that anyone can move up and ahead through the power of reading drives other programs too, such as their bimonthly Story Book Club.
"Stories shape who we are as individuals and as a collective society,” said Lisa Cole, Interim Executive Director. “Books, with their memorable characters and universal themes, often stay with us long after we finish the last page. Even so, I was both surprised and touched at how excited people of all ages were to stand in line for a chance to share their favorite story with us!”
By the end of the day, the literacy station had collected over 100 book titles on two large posters which now hangs in their office. Local favorites included dystopian hits such as The Hunger Games and 1984, modern best sellers like Wonder and Racing in the Rain, childhood gems like Goodnight Moon and The Watermelon Seed, and, of course, the Bible. But, perhaps, the best title of all was this little note near the bottom of one poster - “The Book I’m Going to Write.
”Turning Pages’ Story Book Club meets every other month on Wednesday evenings at 5:00 pm at their office at 2062 N. Beltline Blvd. in Columbia. Participation is free and open to all adults. Learn more at www.turningpagessc.org/bookclub.
