Erie Reader Book Club November 2024 Selection

Erin Phillips

Join the members of the Erie Reader Book Club in November as we celebrate our Shop Local issue by reading and discussing the novel Miss Me Forever by Eugene Cross, an Erie native who set the story in Erie.

SUNDAY, NOV. 24

For the November meeting of the Erie Reader Book Club, we'll be reading Miss Me Forever by Eugene Cross – to celebrate our Shop Local issue, we've chosen a book set in Erie written by an Erie native. 

The book follows the story of Tulsi Gurung, a refugee from a Bhutanese camp who is resettled in Erie with his grandfather, as he anxiously awaits word from his beloved sister who still resides at Camp Goldhap. The story is at once about the challenges of coming to an unfamiliar country (ranging from financial, linguistic, cultural, educational, relational… really countless) to the challenges of dealing with the trauma of being separated from a loved one. 

The fact that the book is set in Erie is unmistakable and readers will find themselves able to deeply picture where the character is at any moment – from his school at East High School to his soccer practice at Family First – Erie is written to be a character as much as Tulsi is. 

The author Eugene Cross was born and raised in Erie, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh (where he earned his MFA in fiction) and categorizes his work as "regional literary fiction set mainly around the area of Pennsylvania where I was raised." A major goal of his work is to "to inspire empathy and awareness in the reader," and with Miss Me Forever, his attempt was to introduce the reader to a part of our local population that they may not realize even exists, while inspiring empathy for the characters' particular situation. 

The discussion, which will take place at Werner Books and Coffee on Sunday, November 24 at 1 p.m. will center around the story and it's quality of writing, the immigrant and refugee population of Erie and the future of that population, the bonds of family, and the struggle of youth. Please consider joining us – no prior membership is required, we always welcome new faces (much like Erie and our burgeoning New American community). 

1 p.m. // Werner Books and Coffee, 3608 Liberty St. // Free to join discussion, cost of book not included // For more info: wernerbooks.com

Eugene Cross came to Penn State Behrend in April for a reading and discussion. Prior to that, he was interviewed by a creative writing student and that interview was published on the Erie Reader's website. You can read more at the link: