Something That Feels Like Truth

As the whirlwind of my first year on the job blew by along with last winter's winds, I was caught by surprise by a February press release from the State Department of Education and the Library of Michigan containing a list of "Michigan Notable Books." Not realizing that such a program even existed, I was thrilled to peruse the list of 20 excellent and diverse books celebrating Michigan people, places, and events. 

Even more exciting than making my way through these distinguished works though, was the chance for the library, through state sponsorship, to host the one of the authors. Last year, the library was lucky enough to present Laurie Kay Sommers, the author of "Fishtown" an account of Leland's historic fishery.

Now, one year later, instead of surprise, February brought anticipation. Yet, knowing full well that lighting rarely strikes the same spot twice, I had no expectation that we would again be chosen to host an author. Thus, I was absolutely floored when our lovely Suttons Bay Bingham Library was chosen again.

In just two short months, on May 14th, Don Lystra, the author of "Something That Feels Like Truth" will visit our Library to chat about his recent award winning collection of short stories and I could not be more delighted.

Indeed, Lystra and his work are the perfect fit for our northern peninsula as his assemblage of stories, like Leelanau itself, displays life in both its sheer beauty and utter hardship.

Take the tale "Reckless" in which a young boy and his father, who has made his way up through the ranks at GM, travel north from Detroit to hunt with a former factory floor coworker. Yet memories and the hardscrabble life of the former coworker force our protagonist to reflect on the course his life, and by proxy, any life can take. Another tale, "Marseille," follows a Saginaw factory worker that has lost his job leading him to become both discombobulated and desirous of a dramatic change but ultimately leaves him clinging to that which matters most.

Like "Marseille" and "Reckless" all of Lystra's tales seek, in his own words, "fundamental truth" and they do so by studying characters and settings in all of their fine detail before painting them before us with deft sympathy. This ability to truthfully yet gracefully touch upon the soul of what it means to be human makes both "Something That Feels Like Truth" an unforgettable work and Lystra's upcoming visit not to be missed.