Borrow a ‘living book’ with Curious Conversations

By Reader Staff

This week, the Sandpoint branch of the East Bonner County Library is expanding its collection to include “living books” — community members who have volunteered to talk one-on-one about their life experiences. 

Curious Conversations runs from 5:30-9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, and will include complimentary hors d’oeuvres, desserts and mocktails while attendees mingle and check out different “books” at the Sandpoint Center (414 Church St.).

Attendees can chat with 13 different community members, each of whom come with a title indicating what stories they would like to tell. Living book titles including Rich, Famous And Happy? Lessons I learned at the Playboy Mansion; Where The Butterflies Bloom: Living Wild Six Months Under an Open Sky; From Street Gang to Summer of Love; and many more that address travel, grief, spirituality and other important topics. 

Halfway through the evening, everyone will have the opportunity to hear a presentation titled “My Life as a Listener: What Happens When the Person Everyone Underestimates Gets the Mic.”

“Our vision is to strengthen our community through unique, one-on-one conversations. Our intention is to cultivate awareness of and access to our neighbors by exploring a chapter of their lives, also known as a ‘living book,’” stated organizers. “We accomplish this through dialogue to better understand and inspire each other, therefore learning more about ourselves and our impact on each other and our communities.”

Find out more at ebonnerlibrary.org/events.