Scanning pages, spanning generations

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT BEACH -- They are living proof that literature can span

generations.

While Claudia Bender, 16, and Marjorie Hart, 75, may have little in

common, they were totally in sync on their views of Susanna Kaysen’s

novel, “Girl Interrupted.”

“Age mattered not at all,” Hart said. “I’m, well, 60 years older, and

it mattered not a scrap. We spoke as one. I find her intensely

interesting.”

The Newport Harbor High School senior and the member of the Oasis

Senior Center were two of many participants in the Students and Adults

Reading Together pilot program.

The students were volunteers from two of Chet Malek’s upper level

English classes at Newport Harbor High.

They chose a novel to read and wrote up a brief synopsis of the book.

Those books, along with students’ descriptions, were then brought to the

senior center, where seniors wishing to participate looked them over and

chose a match.

The duos then e-mailed each other to discuss the book over the past

six weeks.

The program culminated Friday with a luncheon where the partners met

face to face.

While some seniors said they chose their partner based on the book,

Marv Sando, 70, chose to reread “Tuesdays with Maury” after reading what

Andrea Bryan, 17, wrote about it.

“What she wrote about the book made me want to hook up with her,”

Sando said. “There was an enthusiasm, an excitement and freshness there

that shows she has a way with words.”

Both said they eagerly awaited each others e-mails.

“When I got the first e-mail, I was just amazed at how much she got

what Maury was trying to get Mitch to realize,” Sando said.

“I was always interested in hearing Marv’s responses,” Andrea added.

“Also some of his perspectives. I am always a lot more negative.”

The program was funded by a statewide organization based at UCLA

called Center for the Book and run by the city’s library. While the

Center for the Book is also testing the program in Fresno and San Diego,

Newport Beach was the first to run its full course.

Students and seniors deemed it a success.