January 03, 2025
More than a book club
Rabbits Read creates connections and memoriesby Nancy Hitchcock
The Abbot Class of 1973 is distinct in many ways. They were the last group to graduate from Abbot Academy, they celebrated their 50th Reunion last year, and many partake in a virtual book club called Rabbits Read. Formed during the pandemic in spring 2020, the club has read nearly 60 books together.
“We’re a very tight-knit group,” says Dorothy Dodson “Dee” McLaughlin ’73. “The essence of what makes our book group great is connections. We have the opportunity to form new relationships, deepen old ones, and strengthen existing connections to our world, which is so vital and keeps us thriving as we age and transition through life stages.”
McLaughlin launched Rabbits Read at a time when people needed connections the most. Although the core group comprises women from the Class of ’73, other Abbot friends sometimes drop into the Zoom meeting as well.
“All the women have very fond memories of their time at Abbot,” says McLaughlin. “Each person brings myriad life experiences, some good, some bad, and some tragic. Sharing our stories and sharing the stories in literature helps us to understand our world.”
The group has read a wide range of genres, including classic literature, contemporary fiction, and socially conscious books. Titles such as Waking Up White, Caste, and Demon Copperhead sparked deep discussions on issues like racial justice, history, and addiction. They also read Afterlife by Julia Alvarez ’67, whose sister Ana is in the Class of ’73.
Memorable moments include discussions led by classmates and/or teachers who are authors. Mary Jane Miller ’73 presented The Ranch—A Story of the Predictable but Completely Unexpected about her early days in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, in the 1970s.
Abbot English teacher Fran Ladd (Frances Dean Nolde ’54) discussed her book She Looked to the Sky: The Remarkable Life of a Pioneer Aviator with the group. And Catherine Armsden ’73 expounded on her memoir, An Alert, Well-Hydrated Artist in No Acute Distress, which delves into her and her friend’s diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease and tackles issues such as empathy in health care.
“It was very poignant to hear Catherine’s story and how she and others live their lives even in the midst of a disease,” says McLaughlin. “It’s so much richer when you get to hear what’s behind the story and the author’s intent.”
The group’s monthly meetings strengthen friendships and provide support as individuals experience life’s transitions: challenges in relationships, caring for aging parents, moving, downsizing, and retirement. Just last year, McLaughlin retired from teaching—a career she pursued thanks to role model Susan McIntosh Lloyd P’77, ’78, ’79, an Abbot and PA history and music instructor.
“It’s more than a book club,” concludes McLaughlin. “It’s friends. It’s support. It expands our world.”
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