April 2026: Glorious Exploits (Lennon)

Hi all, our April book is Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon. (https://bookshop.org/a/15022/9781250893680)

"On the island of Sicily amid the Peloponnesian War, the Syracusans have figured out what to do with the surviving Athenians who had the gall to invade their city: they’ve herded the sorry prisoners of war into a rock quarry and left them to rot. Looking for a way to pass the time, Lampo and Gelon, two unemployed potters with a soft spot for poetry and drink, head down into the quarry to feed the Athenians if, and only if, they can manage a few choice lines from their great playwright Euripides. Before long, the two mates hatch a plan to direct a full-blown production of Medea. After all, you can hate the people but love their art. But as opening night approaches, what started as a lark quickly sets in motion a series of extraordinary events, and our wayward heroes begin to realize that staging a play can be as dangerous as fighting a war, with all sorts of risks to life, limb, and friendship."

Meetup charges us to host the group; contributions of $1-2/meeting to offset this cost are appreciated (Venmo = Matthew-Litke-1 or toss me a couple bucks at the meeting).

For anyone who wants to read ahead, June's selection is Geek Love by Katherine Dunn.