Book Lover’s Night Feb. 19 to feature author Gregory Randle

Gregory Randle, author of the book “The Last Ferryman,” will be featured at Book Lover’s Night at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, in room 204, Gorecki Center, College of Saint Benedict. The event is free and open to all.

Randle, who now resides near St. Cloud, Minnesota, grew up along the Wabash River in southeastern Illinois where his passion for river life began. In “The Last Ferryman,” his first novel, Randle uses the river he grew up on as the main setting of the book.

The novel is the tale of Buck Shyrock, a ferryman like his father and grandfather, coming to grips with the industrialization of 1939 Illinois. He struggles as a bridge is being built over the Wabash River to connect Illinois and Indiana, all but taking away his livelihood.

Book critic Karen Pirnot of Readers’ Favorite recommends the novel with a five-star review. “Gregory Randle has written a beautifully detailed accounting of a lost way of life,” Pirnot said in her review.

Book Lover’s Night will also feature book recommendations by a community reader at 6:45 p.m. before Randle reads an excerpt from his book. He will be available to sign copies of the book after the event.

“The Last Ferryman” (2013, 246 pages, Langdon Street Press) and other recommended books will be for sale at 20 percent off during the event from the CSB/SJU Bookstore. For more information, contact [email protected] or call 320-363-2119.