Community Reads: Michael Perry

Michael Perry spoke about his book, Population 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time, as part of our first Community Reads program. Population 485 is the true story of how Michael returned to his hometown of New Auburn, Wisconsin, and joined the volunteer fire and rescue department as a way to meet his neighbors “at the invitation of the fire siren.” The book was recently chosen as a 2013 World Book Night selection. We developed a Community Reads brochure detailing compelling questions for book club discussions of Population 485, read-a-likes, and more. Perry's talk focused on Population 485, but he also discussed his other books, bringing the focus of the event on small town life and a writer's life. In addition to Perry speaking, we held informal discussions with Watonwan County first responder volunteers. We held a dinner event at the Fire Hall where people could sit down and talk to first responders about their volunteer jobs and were able to tour the fire trucks and ambulances. The event was also a fundraiser for first responder equipment. Anyone who paid for the supper, helped donate to the equipment. All first responders were given free meals. No one who wanted to tour the fire trucks and ambulances, but not eat, was required to pay.