August meeting: Mailman

Hi all – We had a low turnout at this month’s meeting (to put it mildly) and I’ve heard from a couple of people that they had a hard time making it through the book (Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous). It was a big departure from what we normally read (in some respects, a novel-length poem), so I’ve picked a new book for next month that’s more in line with our previous selections. It’s a memoir called Mailman, about a middle-aged guy who lost his job as a consultant and went to work for the postal service in his hometown of Blacksburg, VA. After a few chapters, I’m finding it to be a fun read. The author Stephen Starring Grant is very funny, and insightful with respect to people’s need for work that offers a sense of purpose. The book also offers a compelling portrait of cross-cutting politics in the rural community that’s home to Virginia Tech. We’ll meet on Saturday, August 22 at 3 pm EST – please don't forget to RSVP so you have the Zoom link. In the meantime, enjoy your summer and happy reading! - Steve