“It was a pretty good book,” Jackson said. “I don’t know why I never finished it (this summer). I just got busy getting ready for college and spending time with my family and friends before leaving.”

“Lay That Trumpet in Our Hands” became the sixth book to be featured in the One Book, One Community program at MSU. The program is meant to bring the MSU and East Lansing communities together by reading the same book over a six-week period and having them participate in campus and community events centered around themes found in the novel.

“The purpose of the program is to take something that the community and university feel is extraordinarily important – that is literacy and reading – and having forums,” said Sylvia Marabate, director of the East Lansing Public Library.

The book is a fictionalized account of McCarthy’s father, who attempted to bring down the Ku Klux Klan in Florida in the early 1950s, said Ginny Haas, MSU director of community relations.

“This is relevant today because intolerance and hatred still exist in this country, and having the personal courage to stand up for what is right is important for everyone,” Haas said. “In addition, this is a key time in American history, and it’s important that no one forget.”

Freshmen are expected to use the book during their courses as part of the program, but preveterinary medicine freshman Michelle Spencer said she wasn’t expecting to use the book in any of her classes.

“I thought it was weird because it wasn’t for class, and everyone just had to read it,” Spencer said. “My professor hasn’t said anything about having it so I’m pretty sure we’re not doing anything with it in my classes.”

Despite the book’s absence in the classroom, Spencer had no regrets from taking the time to read this year’s book.

“I actually thought it was really good. Some required reading books are not that good, but I liked it a lot,” Spencer said.