Location: Sunblossom Farm in Portland, OR
Cost: Free! Optional $5-15 suggested donation

Join us for our July Literary Salon at Sunblossom Farm

Step into a centuries-old tradition of gathering for books, ideas, and conversation.

Unlike a traditional book club, literary salons do not center on a single assigned book. There is no required reading. Instead, each person is invited to bring a book recommendation, short passage, poem, essay, song lyric, or reflection that connects to the evening's theme. We'll read selections aloud, share our thoughts, and let the conversation unfold together.

This month, we're exploring What Unlikable Characters Teach Us through questions such as:

• Why are we drawn to characters we don't actually like?

• What makes a character "unlikable" in the first place?

• Do we hold fictional women and men to different standards?

• Which flawed, selfish, or morally ambiguous characters have stayed with you, and why?

• What can our reactions to difficult characters reveal about our own values, fears, and contradictions?

• Can an unlikable character still be someone we deeply understand or even empathize with?

Optional: Following the salon, we'll spend a little time weeding and tending the Sunblossom garden in the spirit of reciprocity and gratitude for the use of this beautiful space. Anyone interested is welcome to stay, chat, and lend a hand.

Register below.