Readin' Vegans--"Esther The Wonder Pig"

For our Dec. 27 online book club, we'll discuss ESTHER THE WONDER PIG: Changing the World One Heart at a Time, by Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter (Grand Central Publishing, 2016). You need not have attended a previous discussion to join us for this one. We'll discuss the book until about 8:00, followed by open conversation. The Zoom link to the discussion is posted on the right, visible to those who RSVP. PLEASE NOTE: THIS LINK DISAPPEARS AT THE MEETUP START TIME, THAT IS, 7:00 PM. We'll be available from 6:50 on to help anyone who might need extra time to connect. You will need a computer, laptop, smartphone or other device with internet access. It's pretty easy; if you're curious, check out https://zoom.us/. If you can't get on, call us at 303-300-2368. We hope to "see" you there! If you'd like to read ahead: Jan. 24, 2023 -- If Nietzsche Were A Narwhal, by Justin Gregg Feb. 28 -- Unworthy Republic, by Claudio Saunt Mar. 28 -- Being Mortal, by Atul Gawande ------------------------------------------ "Funny, moving, and heartwarming. The greatest love story ever told between two men and their pig. "―Ricky Gervais When an old friend contacted Steve Jenkins out of the blue and begged him to take in a ‘micro’ piglet, he couldn’t say no. Though he knew his partner wouldn’t be thrilled about him taking in yet another stray, the idea of having a cute little pig to care for was simply irresistible. Little did he know, that decision would turn his and Derek’s lives upside down. It turned out that as adorable as she was, there was nothing ‘micro’ about Esther, and as she grew and grew, Steve and Derek realised that they had actually signed on to raise a full-sized commercial pig. Within three years, dainty little Esther grew to a whopping 600 pounds. After a rollercoaster ride of growing pains and a lot of pig-sized dramas, it became clear that Esther needed more space, so Steve and Derek made another life-changing decision: they bought a farm and opened the Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary, where they could care for Esther and offer refuge to other animals in need. Inspired by their adventures with their not so little pig, Steve and Derek have become two of the world’s best known and most successful animal rights activists, alongside the magnificent Esther, who has hundreds of thousands of fans around the world. Best of all, Esther the Wonder Pig shows how families really do come in all shapes and sizes. "Funny, entertaining, enlightening, and touching, this book about an unknowingly influential little piggy is a good read that also provides an education on the intelligence of pigs and their capacity for giving and receiving affection."―Publishers Weekly (STARRED REVIEW) "First, Jenkins and Walter opened their hearts to one very special pig, and now they are opening their doors and letting us in, too. ESTHER THE WONDER PIG is a tender, funny story that manages to sneak up behind you when you're least expecting it and change your life. Be prepared to fall in love-with a pig."―Jasmin Singer, author of Always Too Much and Never Enough: A Memoir and co-host of Our Hen House ***