George Minot led the discussion Tuesday night of the 2017 All Iowa Reads book, “Bottomland,” by Iowa author Michelle Hoover in the Perry Public Library’s large meeting room.
Minot is a published author, English instructor at Kirkwood Community College and graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. He has led the annual book discussions for three years, bringing an energy and empathy to the work of critical analysis that always produces a lively and insightful discussion.
Part mystery, part tragedy, part coming-of-age narrative, “Bottomland” traces the Hess family in the years after World War I as they try to shed the anti-German sentiment that clung to their name. When the youngest two Hess daughters vanish in the middle of the night, however, the family struggles to maintain themselves among people as hard and unforgiving as the Iowa plains.
The Perry Public Library has sponsored community discussions every year since the founding of the All Iowa Reads program in 2002. Minot facilitated the community-wide book discussion from 7 p.m. until about 8:30 p.m.
The All Iowa Reads program began in 2003 and aims “to foster a sense of unity through reading.” In order to be chosen as an All Iowa Reads selection, a book must:
- raise universal social issues relevant to Iowans,
- lend itself to sustained, spirited and in-depth discussion,
- be accessible to adults and high school aged youth, and
- be available by Jan. 1 of the selection year in paperback and unabridged audio
If you missed this guest-led book discussion, join other book lovers for both monthly and quarterly book discussions offered by the Perry Public Library. More information can be found on their website or by inquiring at the library.
