Join us and fellow community partners at Muskegon Community College’s Overbrook Theater for an evening with author Leif Enger!
6:00pm, Thursday, November 13 | Overbrook Theater – 221 Quarterline Road.
Book Nook will offer books for sale at this event.
This event is hosted by:
Muskegon Community College | White Lake Community Library | Hackley Public Library | Muskegon Area District Library
About The Book
I Cheerfully Refuse is a hauntingly imaginative and emotionally resonant novel set in a near-future America unraveling under climate change, societal collapse, and authoritarian rule. The story follows Rainy, a musician whose life is upended when his beloved wife, Lark—a bookseller—vanishes. In his grief and desperation, Rainy sets sail on a seemingly sentient Lake Superior, embarking on an Orphean quest across stormy waters and remote islands in search of her. Along the way, he encounters corpses, lawless communities, a ruthless ruling class, and a dystopian landscape where literacy is rare and infrastructure has crumbled.
Yet, through physical beauty, unexpected humor, and encounters with generous strangers—especially a resourceful young girl who becomes his companion—Rainy’s solitary journey becomes something far greater. What begins as a personal mission transforms into a broader, rebellious odyssey fueled by hope, kindness, and steadfast love. The novel has been lauded for its lyrical prose, emotional depth, and unwavering optimism amid despair.
This event is FREE to the public – registration is encouraged.
To register, visit the link in the community-wide flip book showcasing Big Read programming at hackleylibrary.org
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This program is part of BIG READ. What is Big Read?
BIG READ is a communities-wide initiative in West Michigan to encourage conversations, creativity, and connections through amazing books – a Big Read, a Middle Read, a Little Read, and a Mini Read. Several organizations host programs inspired by these books. We invite you to not only read these titles, but to enjoy programming inspired by them, at various locations throughout West Michigan!
Take a peek at HPL’s online events calendar for more Big Read programs!
Big Read: I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger
Middle Read: A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat
Little Read: Journey by Aaron Becker
Mini Read: Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Annie Kubler and Sarah Dellow
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