Maryland’s veterans connect through humanities discussion.
At Maryland Humanities, we know that the humanities can play an important role in articulating the unique issues and concerns faced by veterans. Using literature to discuss service fosters connection, reduces feelings of isolation, and provides a safe context in which to explore issues regarding military service.
Veterans Book Groups aim to bring veterans of all eras together to talk about military experiences and returning to civilian life while providing an informal, supportive environment for discussion.
Readings range from classics to contemporaries – that means Herman Melville to Khaled Hosseini and everywhere in between! Syllabi vary, but all groups read the full gamut of literature including memoirs, novels, poetry, short stories, and essays.
Veteran Discussion Group Locations
Baltimore County
Led by Dr. Karen Arnold, independent scholar, poet and former visiting professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, this book group is open to current service members and veterans from all eras. .
Meetings will be held virtually from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.. Registration is required. To register, please visit Events and Programs.
Books to be discussed are as follows:
| Meeting Date | Book Title & Author |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, January 27 | Every Weapon I had: A Vietnam Vetss Long Road to the Medal of Honor by Paris Darius Davis |
| Tuesday, February 24 | The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell |
| Tuesday, March 24 | Forgotten Souls: The Search for the Lost Tuskegee Airmen by Cheryl W. Thompson |
| Tuesday, April 28 | The Nine: The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany by Gwen Strauss |
| Tuesday, May 19 | 8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster by Mirinae Lee |
Books can be reserved by visiting Baltimore County Public Library and picked up at any branch.
Veterans Book Group is coordinated statewide by Maryland Humanities and presented locally in partnership with Baltimore County Public Library.
Harford County
A reading and discussion series for veterans of all services, all eras. Five books are discussed over the course of five sessions, one each month.
Moderator Dr. Karen Arnold will take you and your compatriots through books that explore a variety of topics. Learn about the experiences of other military personnel and share your own with those most likely to understand.
Meetings will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Registration is required, and attendees should plan to attend all sessions. When you register, please come into the Bel Air Library to pick up the first book. All books and readings will be provided.
Books to be discussed are as follows:
| Meeting Dates | Book Title & Author |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, January 14 | Ghosts of Honolulu: A Japanese Spy, a Japanese American Spy Hunter, and the Untold Story of Pearl Harbor by Mark Harmon |
| Wednesday, February 11 | Selections from Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace by Maxine Hong Kingston |
| Wednesday, March 11 | Forgotten Souls: The Search for the Lost Tuskegee Airmen by Cheryl W. Thompson |
| Wednesday, April 8 | The Nine: The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany by Gwen Strauss |
| Wednesday, May 13 | The Frozen Hours: A Novel of the Korean War by Jeff Shaara |
All program dates are listed on the Harford County Public Library online calendar.
Howard County
Veterans, both active and retired military, are invited to this online discussion series. During five monthly facilitated sessions, discussions center on military experiences and a unique set of readings, which may include classics, fiction, memoirs, poetry, short stories, articles, and essays. The readings relate in some way to military experiences or offer a veteran’s perspective.
The Veterans Book Group is moderated by David Owens. David Owens is a Navy veteran who served for six years onboard two U.S. Navy warships. Owens attended the U.S. Naval Academy and now runs a small media content production business based in the D.C. metropolitan area. Owens loves to read and, even more so, enjoys the discussions and camaraderie of the veteran book groups!
Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions. Registration is open to veterans/active duty only; space is limited.
Meetings will take place virtually on the first Sunday of each month from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. All reading materials are provided.
| Meeting Dates | Book Titles & Authors |
|---|---|
| Sunday, February 1 | The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann |
| Sunday, March 1 | The Good Soldiers by David Finkel |
| Sunday, April 12 | No Ordinary Dog by Chesney and Layden |
| Sunday, May 3 | Green on Blue by Elliot Ackerman |
| Sunday, June 7 | America’s Deadliest Battle by Robert Ferrel |
The Veterans Book Group is sponsored by Elville and Associates, Maryland, and managed by Howard County Library System. We thank Elville and Associates for their long standing support of our community.
Prince George’s County
All meetings are from 7-8:30 p.m., the third Tuesday of the month.
Montpelier Arts Center will have a small number of books available. We encourage you to check out the book from your local library or purchase a used copy from Amazon, Abe’s Books, or wherever you can find a copy.
Books to be discussed:
| Meeting Dates | Book Titles & Authors |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, January 20 | The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell |
| Tuesday, February 17 | The Ghosts of Honolulu: A Japanese Spy, a Japanese American Spy Hunter, and the Untold Story of Pearl Harbor by Mark Harmon |
| Tuesday, March 17 | Forgotten Souls: The Search for the Lost Tuskegee Airmen by Cheryl W. Thompson |
| Tuesday, April 21 | The Nine: The True story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany by Gwen Strauss |
| Tuesday, May 19 | Lightning Down by Tom Calvin |