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Storycatcher: Making Sense of Our Lives through the Power and Practice of Story
"Storycatcher reveals the powerful role stories play in life, and empowers readers to examine their own to bring greater awareness and positive change. Personal-writing pioneer Christina Baldwin first draws on examples from history and mythology to show how stories do indeed change events. She then shows readers how to apply this idea to their own narratives, acknowledging...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
September 12th 2005
by New World Library
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I've always believed that each life has a very important story, even those that at first glance don't seem glamorous or adventurous. In fact, my favorite memoirs, biographies, and oral histories tend to be more about real people who never consciously realized the importance of their lives.
Perhaps that is why I have always kept a journal. I am ever writing and editing the story that is my life. Trying to figure out how my experiences have made me the way I am. Looking to create the story that I...more
Perhaps that is why I have always kept a journal. I am ever writing and editing the story that is my life. Trying to figure out how my experiences have made me the way I am. Looking to create the story that I...more
Wow--I love this book--story, story everywhere. I decided to try out storytelling in the opening moments of a committee meeting last night, as a way to then ferret out some of what are our goals. I liked how it worked--I wonder what my Goodreads friend who was there experienced.... The point of the book is "for us to notice how the story we make of the moment becomes the life we lead." Within me I'm carrying this day and the words and silences we shared. Even if the moment gets buried and lost i...more
As best summarized in the dust jacket: "...Christina Baldwin...explore the vital necessity of re-creating a sacred common ground for each other's stories. Through story and example, Baldwin presents storytelling as an innate skill we can remember and practice. She shows the power of story to connect life experiences so that we can share them, learn from them, and teach each other through the medium of a good tale." In the introduction the author goes on to state: "This book explores three premis...more
Aug 26, 2007
Donna
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Seekers and story lovers
Shelves:
essays-ideas
"The self-story is the narrative voice in the stream of consciousness that runs babbling along the edge of our awareness. Minute by minute this narrative defines who we are and what we are capable, or not capable, of doing." --Christina Baldwin
Story shapes and defines not only our individual lives but those of families, societies, and cultures. Becoming aware of our stories empowers us to shape them, as they shape us. Instinctively, I’ve known this for a long time, but no one could express more...more
Story shapes and defines not only our individual lives but those of families, societies, and cultures. Becoming aware of our stories empowers us to shape them, as they shape us. Instinctively, I’ve known this for a long time, but no one could express more...more
A fantastic meditation on the power of storytelling and storycatching. Well written and very poetic. This is not a how-to book even though Christina provides questions to start you on your journey. Stories touch every aspect of our lives. Read the book and then attend one of her workshops. I have an autographed copy that she signed after one of her lectures.
An inspiring read about the power of story and how we can access it in our lives. This book is quite different than I'd expected and not so much about writing but more about telling stories. Stories from the author's life infuse each chapter and questions at the end of chapters prompt memories and made me think more deeply about my life.
Mar 29, 2010
Leah
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Jenni
Recommended to Leah by:
Edith Fuchs
Shelves:
bookclub
The essential nugget I grabbed was that we don't know how our stories, or the stories that have gone before us will affect those who hear the telling. This book is worth having as a reference should you decide to work on teasing out family histories from taciturn elders, or need to engage grumpy strangers in an slow-moving line at the airport. I wish I could print out the "Tell Me A Story" prompts at the end of each chapter as they provide great ways to jump start a writing practice.
It is hard to know where to begin to describe the powerful impact of this book. I have discovered Baldwin's work at an important crossroad of my life and I look forward to the ways my story will be shaped by hers.
This is an excellent resource for those who value story in their life. The content is wonderful and gave me an entirely different way to think about story and its impact on our lives. It made me all the more enthusiastic about getting my heritage photos into my heritage scrapbook and TELL THOSE STORIES! This is one I'll be looking to buy for my book collection! Excellent book!
Christina's masterful storytelling in Storycatcher will lead you not only through some of her most treasured stories, but also encourage you to write your own.
This book is wonderful for a writer of family history. Baldwin brings to the table a wide range of informative material.
Dreamy with writing tips--not what I was expecting from the title. I did, however, find some useful things for my research.
Great writing exercises for anyone who wants to write a memoir of their life and times.
Interesting book - a sort of self-help-ish approach that sees story as a way to understand and integrate our lives. The points are a bit "wispier" than I'm used to reading - though I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing, this is not a philosophy book. The idea of cultivating people that make room for, understand, and tell stories as a way of forwarding personal, organizational, as social development does seem like an interesting one. And I think there are some useful perspectives on how t...more
rec from Erin
disappointing. Although I really found her writing style very engaging I could only give it two stars. Her beliefs and mine just didn't line up.
I am a "storycatcher" via my digi scrapbook pages :) This was an interesting look at how story plays a part of our lives and how important it is to human connection.
so far I'm not likin' it......
May 08, 2013
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Apr 28, 2013
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Mar 31, 2013
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Apr 26, 2013
Rebecca
marked it as don-t-want-to-read-anymore
Mar 16, 2013
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“The problems that exist in the world today cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them.”
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