~by Ciara Baird

Rekindle the Classics is led each month by an M.A. student from the English Department of CSU alongside a representative from the public library and the creator of the program, Ellen Brinks.

The discussion on November 7 was led by Madison Myers, a graduate student studying English Literature at Colorado State. This month’s book, The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver, focuses on a variety of topics that are especially relevant to today’s political climate. Madison focused on directing questions that provided participants with the opportunity to discuss whatever they felt to be most important to their reading experience.

Those who came to the talk had diverse backgrounds from an ecologist and a student getting her Ph.D. in ecology to those simply with an interest in Barbara Kingsolver’s works. The women in the group focused on their appreciation for Kingsolver’s emphasis on the ability of a diverse group of women within the book to overcome hardships. The discussion flowed easily without pause or tension. Human relationships to nature, religion and naming were also some of the themes that came up within the two hour conversation. The atmosphere was very pleasant and we all shared laughs, despite the serious nature of the book.

Everyone is encouraged to attend; all discussions take place at the Wolverine Farm Letterpress and Publick House. Next month’s book will be Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf and is set to take place on December 5 from 6:30-8:30 pm.