OK, so you have finished reading Ernest J. Gaines' A Lesson Before Dying. Now, you want to talk to other people about the book. Well, you will have plenty of chances to do that in the coming weeks as book discussions kick off at libraries, bookstores, schools, book clubs, coffeehouses and workplaces throughout Greater Cincinnati.

        The novel is the centerpiece of On The Same Page, a spring project aimed at bringing our diverse community together through literature.

JOIN OUR PANEL

If you are interested in joining an Enquirer reader panel for a discussion of A Lesson Before Dying, write: Sara Pearce, On the Same Page Panel, Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati OH 45202; e-mail: spearce@enquirer.com; fax: (513) 768-8330. Please include your name, daytime phone number, address, age and race (we want a diverse group).

        Mr. Gaines' book, winner of the 1993 National Book Critics Circle Award, was selected for the project by a nine-member community panel on the strength of its focus on relationships and issues of race.

        It tells the story of the relationship between two young African-American men — one, a college-educated teacher, and the other, a convicted criminal on death row.

        Kaldi's, 1204 Main St, Over-the-Rhine, gets the discussions started 6 p.m. Monday. Sitwell's Coffee House, 324 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, hosts a discussion 7 p.m. Wednesday. The public libraries of Hamilton and Kenton counties have already set dates for discussions at branches during April, as has Joseph-Beth Booksellers and a variety of community groups.

        On the Same Page events are listed on the project's Web site, Cincinnati.Com/bookclub, as well as the Sunday entertainment calendar in Tempo and in “The List” on Fridays in the Weekend section. Also look for updates in Tempo's daily “Get to It” column.

        On The Same Page continues through early May. The project is supported by a partnership among dozens of community groups, including the Enquirer; Cincinnati.Com; WCET Channel 48; WLWT Channel 5; the University of Cincinnati; the public libraries of Hamilton, Montgomery, Kenton, Boone and Butler counties; Cincinnati Magazine, Joseph-Beth Booksellers; and the Cincinnati Mayor's Office.

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