Our community book club is back! Come and have a lively discussion as we share our thoughts on these books! 

OCT Session: Come join us for our first meeting in October! The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides is a psychological thriller to get us in the spooky mood for the season. About a woman named Alicia Berenson, a painter who murders her husband, Gabriel, then never speaks another word. Theo Faber, a forensic psychotherapist is obsessed with her case, becomes her therapist to uncover her motive, only for the narrative to reveal that the storylines are not occurring simultaneously, leading to a shocking twist regarding their connection.

NOV Session: We are going to put a spin on November's book selection. For November you will be challenged to read a book of your choice in a genre that you have never/very rarely read. Let's have a thoughtful conversation on the book and genre you chose and why. Was this an eye opener for you? Will you read more books of that genre in the future? Come and let us know! Speaking of the future, The Merrymeeting Adult Ed Center will be putting its Spring/Summer catalog together soon! We will take some time during this meeting to discuss the future of our club, anything you would like to add/subtract? We will also choose future selections and possible locations. Please bring with you at least 2 book titles and a small summary that you would like the club to discuss and we will vote on the top titles!

DEC Session: Home for the holidays? Not so much for the characters in our December book pick! We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer is about a queer couple, Charlie and Eve, who buy a house to flip, only for their lives to unravel after they let a family of former residents tour the home, leading to supernatural events, disappearances, and a breakdown of reality. Originally a viral short story on Reddit. Would you have let the former family in? Let's talk about what you would have done! 

JAN Session: Happy New Year! Lets start the new year off with a great read from Fredrik Backman, the author of the bestselling book "A Man Called Ove." My Friends by Fredrick Backman is about the enduring power of friendship, art, and human connection. Follow an aspiring artist named Louisa as she uncovers the story behind a famous painting of four teenagers from a transformative summer 25 years prior, weaving together past and present narratives of trauma, hope, and healing. Come join us for a great conversation! 

FEB Session: [Wayward] - Unruly, unpredictable or difficult to control. This month we will be reading a book with that very title! Weyward by Emilia Hart is a debut novel that weaves together the stories of three women from different centuries—Altha (1619), Violet (1942), and Kate (present day)—who are connected by a shared legacy of female power, intuition, and a deep bond with nature, often labeled as witchcraft. The book explores themes of resilience, and the struggle of each woman as she confronts abuse and societal constraints, finding strength in their "weyward" spirit and connection to the natural world. Let's talk about the lives of these 3 women and what they taught us. 

MAR Session: We’d love to have you join us for a book to movie discussion. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is a science fiction novel following Ryland Grace, a junior high science teacher turned astronaut who wakes up with amnesia on a spaceship. He discovers he is on a desperate, one-way mission to save Earth from a solar-dimming microorganism. Was the book or movie better? Let's find out together! 

Tis the spooky season and time to build a monster of a story for chills and thrills. Learn how to stitch the parts of a plot, setting, and character together into hair-raising tales of things that go bump in the night. Class takes place on Zoom. Students must have reliable internet, and an audio and video enable computer, tablet, or smartphone to participate.

Get your artificial intelligence crash course in one day, all from the comfort of your couch! Fun, easy to follow. Enjoy intro AI classes and classes that teach you how AI can bring you side income, how to find grants and scholarships for college, growing your small business with AI tools, and more. Ideal for small business owners, retirees, seniors, managers, stay at home folks, parents, and anyone who is curious about what AI can do. You can join all the classes or sit in only on the ones you like. Topics covered will include: 1. How to Use Chat GPT; 2. How to Use Google Gemini; 3. AI Tools for Small Business Owners; 4. Side Hustle with Chat GPT: 20+ Ways to Make an Income with Chat GPT; 5. AI for Retirees; 6. How to Grow your Small Business with AI; 7. Save Big! Discount Airline Tickets, Hotels, Groceries, Using Chat GPT and AI; 8. Find the Money for College Financial Aid, Grants, and Scholarships, Using Chat GPT + AI.

This course prepares participants ages 11-16 to safely provide care for infants and children. Learn important skills like diapering, feeding, and holding children. In addition, students will learn how to react to an emergency situation, such as choking, fire and water emergencies. Upon completion of this course, participants will receive a certificate from the American Red Cross which is valid for 10 years (this course does not include CPR/First Aid/AED certification). Presented by Jennifer Harris of First Point Training, LLC.

Have fun learning to listen to your intuition and exploring the traditional and intuitive meanings behind Tarot. We’ll go over the basics of a Tarot deck, quick ways to understand card meanings without years of studying, how to read your first card, and integrating Tarot into your life for self-reflection, confidence, and guidance. You can bring a deck if you have one on hand that you’d like to connect with and explore further. This workshop is 1 night.

Most families aren’t lacking care—they’re lacking orientation. This session explains how assisted living works, what to expect during a hospital or rehab discharge, and how to evaluate options before decisions become urgent. This workshop is designed to reduce confusion and help people feel more prepared. Kaitlyn Cunningham Morse, a senior care strategist, describes her work as grounded, practical, and shaped by over 10 years inside Maine’s senior living industry.

Learn what looks good for your face shape! In this fun class, you’ll learn your face shape and tips for enhancing your appearance by working with your facial features. We’ll teach you hairstyle do’s & don’t’s for your face shape, as well as glasses and necklines that harmonize with your features. Come on your own or grab a friend and learn some great tips to help you look your best! Presented by Candace Sanborn of Radiant Image consulting services.

Discover how you can make a lasting difference in a youth’s life mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS)! This presentation introduces BBBS's mission and explores the different avenues for volunteerism. Learn the importance of mentoring, the positive impact of strong relationships, and how BBBS supports everyone throughout the process.