Writer / Nancy Craig
Photographer / Jessica Limeberry of Lemongrass Photography
Our book group, Lit ‘n Latte, meets once a month at the Strange Brew coffee shop on Smith Valley Road. We started our group through a women’s program at New Hope Church several years ago and have not run out of good books to discuss. We all love to talk, and it is evident that we love books since one of our favorites is “The Book Thief” by Marcus Zusak.
Here is what one of our members, Cindy Cook, said about this book: “It is the first book I remember reading with our group. I thought it was extraordinary — so imaginative, with Death as the narrator, the way he describes his observations: subtle, simple, yet a gripping and touching look at the wartime lives of ordinary, decent people who happen to live in Germany during WWII. The experience of reading it was great. The additional experience of having a group to share that with was enriching and hooked me!”
Cindy captures what makes a book group so much fun; it is the sharing not only about the book but how our lives are touched by the story and characters in the book. One of my favorite books is “The Stonecutter’s Aria” by Carol Faenzi, which is a story of her grandparents who immigrate to the USA. Her grandfather goes from the marble quarries in Italy to the limestone quarries in southern Indiana. This book is an example of why we like to pick local authors; we got to meet and hear Carol at the Indianapolis library. Plus one of our former members, Karen Beatty, went to the marble quarries on her trip to Italy.
Another source we have used to meet authors and hear them talk about their books is the Butler University program, Vivian S. Delbrook Visiting Writers Series. We get our book ideas from friends’ recommendations and other book groups such as the White River Library. Their book discussions are open to adults. See their website for information.
In our book group, we talk about our Christian faith and open the discussion with prayer. Our member Janet Miller sums up how books can affect us with her favorite quote in the book “Moloka’i” by Alan Brennert: “God didn’t give man wings; He gave him the brain and the spirit to give himself wings. Just as He gave us the capacity to laugh when we hurt, or to struggle on when we feel like giving up. I’ve come to believe that how we choose to live with pain or injustice, or death … is the true measure of the Divine within us.”
We read all kinds of books and a variety of authors; we select the books for a year at a time and get the book discussion questions from the author’s website. We take turns facilitating to research the book and to lead the discussion. It is good to keep the group number small so everyone has a chance to talk. If you would like to start your own book group, I’ll be glad to share what has worked for us. Contact me, Nancy Craig, at ncraig4@gmail.com.
