Attendance for United We Read pleases organizers

Julia Jorgensen's aim was modest: She wanted at least four people to participate in each United We Read's book discussion of "A Painted House" by John Grisham.

Monday, there were exactly four. But because it was the first time a group's number has dipped below 10 and there's at least one discussion per day this month, Jorgensen is a happy librarian.

So far, attendance at the book discussions has been between 20 and 25, with no indication it will slack off. In fact, project organizers are looking for book titles for next year.

The discussions are all part of the community reading event that was the Central High School librarian's brainchild.

The goal of United We Read is to get as many people in Cape Girardeau reading and discussing the same book. "A Painted House" was chosen because "it's a book my 75-year-old mother can read and not be offended," Jorgensen said.

It also appeals to her high school students and other young people, she said.

Discussions are scheduled throughout February, with high school students, teachers, a newspaper editor and college professors among the discussion leaders.

Jorgensen has spent a part of every day talking about Grisham's novel based on his childhood in Arkansas.

Set on a cotton farm in the early 1950s "A Painted House" seems to be resonating with Cape Girardeans, Jorgensen said.

Each discussion is different, she said, because different people attend and talk about the area of the book that was meaningful to them. Some nights the discussion centers around family ties. Other nights, it turns toward Cardinals baseball.

Monday, Alberta Loos hadn't been able to read the book before the discussion because all 55 copies were checked out from the local library.

Within minutes, Jorgensen handed her a paperback.

Not wanting to give too much of the plot away, Jorgensen and two others turned the conversation to life in the 1950s and "firsts" in their lives such as the first time they saw television or a movie.

Since food plays such a large role in the novel, Jorgensen gives out several recipes during discussions in case anyone gets hungry for home-style cooking.

Friday, the discussion was served over fried chicken. Saturday, the book was discussed over local chef Tom Harte's chocolate delights. On Feb. 22, tea and tea cakes will be served.

abuchanan@semissourian.com

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