Profile Written by: Ben Hollingshead, Volunteer
The Words Alive 2023 Rookie of the Year volunteer honoree Cindy Bryant wears many hats at Words Alive, from assisting with deliveries to helping with craft parties. Her enthusiasm and positive energy leave everyone with a smile on their face!
When Cindy was in first grade, she was challenged to read 100 books. She wanted to achieve something her two older brothers had not, so she completed the challenge and still has that award! Not satisfied with just the 100 books, Cindy then decided to read every book at her hometown library in Defiance, Ohio. She started at the farthest left corner, the top shelf of the library, picked up a book, and began her journey and hasn’t looked back!
Underlying Cindy’s insatiable drive were the stresses she faced at home caused by her family’s financial insecurity. The library and books became a refuge for her. She loved "rags to riches" stories and later "coming of age" narratives. She experimented with many genres, including mysteries, spy thrillers, and romances, but kept returning to historical fiction. She describes the book series Shogun by James Clavell as a “game changer.” She started to look for historical fiction, but back then, there was no historical fiction category, and there certainly wasn’t any internet, so she had to rely on the librarian and her own scans of the library to find books. Reading historical fiction motivated her to travel to England, Ireland, and Scotland.
When Cindy retired from the corporate world six years ago, she found herself looking for ways to give back and knew she had to do something related to instilling a love for books. “Reading saved me as a child, informed me as an adult, and is a trusted friend and comfort as I enjoy my retirement years.” She came across Words Alive during a volunteer search in San Diego. Her first event was a craft fair, and she was hooked. “The vibe was so relaxed, accepting, and welcoming. Everyone was interested in reading, so the conversations never waned.” In her first semester of volunteering with Read Aloud, she volunteered in three classes at two different schools and helped deliver materials to schools. Cindy divides her time between Las Vegas and San Diego and plans to return to San Diego in the Summer of 2023! Cindy, thank you for all your hard work, and congratulations on winning Rookie of the Year!
Books recommended: Cindy always has multiple reads in the queue. She is reading Transcription by Kate Atkinson, the classic Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill, and finally getting into Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye.