Craig Darch hosting book talk on Feb. 13

The public is invited to a book talk by Craig Darch, author of "L’Chaim and Lamentations: A Short Story Collection," on Feb. 13 at 4 p.m. at Pebble Hill.

"L’Chaim and Lamentations" is a collection of seven, richly layered stories that tackle not only the question of what it means to be Jewish but also what it means to be human, exploring universal themes of companionship and loneliness, faith and perseverance. These stories detail the lives of the powerful and confident, but also the struggle of the modest and the determined, people doing the very best they can. Charming, poignant and life-affirming, "L’Chaim and Lamentations" revels in local color while celebrating the universal joy and suffering that permeates these tales of the living and all the ghosts they carry.

Darch is the Humana-Sherman-Germany Distinguished Professor of Special Education at Auburn University. He earned his doctorate at the University of Oregon and has taught at Auburn for 37 years. He is the author of "From Brooklyn to the Olympics: The Hall of Fame Career of Auburn University Track Coach Mel Rosen" and has co-authored three college-level textbooks on learning and intellectual disabilities.

The event is free, open to the public and will be followed by refreshments. Books will be available for purchase and signing. The Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities at Pebble Hill is located at 101 S. Debardeleben St.

For more information on the program, call 334-844-4903 or go to www.auburn.edu/cah.