LOCAL READERS PERFORM AT BOOKSTORE TO COMBAT HUNGER

Ernest Hemingway, Garrison Keillor, Sylvia Platt and other literary writers spoke Thursday night at a Cape Girardeau bookstore -- through local readers who performed literary interpretations of their work.

Barnes and Noble Booksellers hosted an open-mike night for those wishing to read works by their favorite authors or their own works.

All 400 Barnes and Noble bookstores in the country participated and donated a portion of Thursday's profits to organizations that fight hunger in the U.S.

The local program was part of the national event called Writers Harvest. About 500 bookstores, colleges and community centers participating across the country Thursday.

Most of the people seemed to act out their performances rather than read them. Many had their lines memorized and emotion strolled across their faces, more an act of passion than recitation.

Dr. Sharon Bebout, a university professor and playwrite, performed a moving excerpt from her favorite short story, "Why I Live At P.O." by Eudora Welty, and her favorite poem, "Eleanor."

Bebout said she participated and invited students from her oral interpretation class to attend because she felt it was a good cause. But she had another reason.

"I think reading aloud is really important," Bebout said. "We've fallen out of love with the written word. It's time we fell back in love with it again."

Chris Young, 29, of Scott City is in Bebout's class. He did a humorous, touching performance from Garrison Keillor's "Lake Wobegone."

"It's something I wanted to do," Young said. "We had performed in class, and I think Garrison's point is a poignant one."

Pieces by Ernest Hemingway, Sylvia Platt, James Baldwin and others were also read.

Writers Harvest is the country's largest literary fund-raising event to fight hunger and poverty. Since its inception in 1992, Writers Harvest has raised more than $280,000 to fight hunger.

Organizers also hope to increase awareness about the seriousness problem of hunger in our country.

"People are not aware of the problem of the level they should be," said Krista Schafer, public relations coordinator for Barnes and Noble. "How many hungry people have you come across?"

Writers Harvest hopes to raise that awareness and to do a lot more.

"Writers Harvest requires all of us to understand, or at least intuit, the connection between bodily nourishment and spiritual health," said Richard Russo, chairman of the Writers Harvest national organization in 1995. "That understanding gives purpose to these readings, beyond enjoyment of the words, by providing a link to the interdependence of body and soul."