Members of the Peter White Public Library group “Tasty Reads” enjoy a potluck meal they prepared to share with one another at their Tuesday meeting. The dishes were inspired by their chosen book of the month. (Journal photo by Jessica Potila)

MARQUETTE — The late 20th century author C.S. Lewis said that “eating and reading are two pleasures that combine admirably.” A book group at Peter White Public Library in Marquette allows for folks to come together in the spirit of that notion.

“Tasty Reads” is a popular book club during which members independently read a monthly book selection and share a potluck meal on the last Tuesday of that month based on what they have read.

Nearly 20 book and food enthusiasts met up at the library on Tuesday afternoon to discuss and share foods related to the Tasty Reads group’s February book selection, Hippie Food: How Back-to-the-Landers, Longhairs and Revolutionaries Changed the Way We Eat, by Jonathan Kauffman.

Library Director Andrea Ingmire said Tasty Reads has drawn a hearty handful of members for about 15 years.

“You know food is one of those things that always brings people together so we have a lot of repeat attendees and a lot of those folks have developed friendships over the years so it is a great community but also I think there’s just a lot of power in shared meals and we don’t have a whole lot of that in our culture so this is an opportunity to have a shared eating experience with people that you might not otherwise have a chance to,” she said.

Tuesday’s participants feasted on a potluck that included foods related to the book’s theme, which explores the history of how hippie culture helped shape healthy eating in modern America.

A variety of granolas, Greek lentil soup and a tofu chocolate mousse pie were among dishes served by group members.

But there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to how group members interpret what meals they feel relate to the book of the month.

Ruth Holmstrom improvised when plans for 1970s inspired pizza bites fell through Tuesday morning,

“I realized I didn’t have any mozzarella cheese. It was either go out and get cheese or order a pizza and guess what I did,” she said, joking that it allowed her a few extra minutes to play cribbage before attending the book club gathering.

Anyone is welcome to join Tasty Reads, which meets the second Tuesday of each month at noon in the library’s George Shiras III Room.

The group is free to attend, and although it is encouraged, participants are not required to bring a dish to share.

For more information about Tasty Reads and other book groups at Peter White Public Library, including a list of upcoming book selections, visit pwpl.info/news-events/book-groups.

Jessica Potila can be reached at 906-228-2500 Her email address is jpotila@miningjournal.net.