Flyleaf Books reading merges church, college

Conflict, college and church converge in Will Willimon and Allegra Jordan’s latest works of fiction.

The two authors will be hosting an evening discussion on their books “Incorporation,” by Willimon, and “Harvard 1914,” by Jordan, at Chapel Hill’s Flyleaf Books tonight.

Willimon, a veteran author and former dean of Duke University Chapel, is a prominent writer on church and ministry in the United States. He said his book “Incorporation” is a deviation from his many non-fiction works.

“It’s sort if an inner look at the underbelly of the church, and a look at the very human side of a divine institution,” Willimon said.

“The characters in it are very flawed and human, and have a number of issues that they work out against the backdrop of this divine institution.”

The book is set in a church in the Midwest and chronicles the life of a recent Princeton graduate and his journey through church ministry.

Jordan’s novel, “Harvard 1914,” also follows Ivy League college students — this time in the context of World War I and its impact on the United States.

The three university students — one from England, one from Germany and one from Boston — all have to cope with the war and its growing presence in the United States.

The novel also recounts the true story of The Memorial Church at Harvard University, and the controversy surrounding its construction as a war memorial at the end of WWI.

“This is a book about a new way to imagine life after dealing with great sorrow,” Jordan said.

“I hope it gives people a better idea of what to do when they get stuck in a conflict. It can be a loss of any kind, and I wanted (the story) to be an example of people getting stuck, and how you can get ‘unstuck.’ I want it to be a new kind of social imagination.”

Jordan said the inspiration for the book came from a sermon she heard at Harvard.

“There was a famous preacher named Peter Gomes, and he talked about divided loyalties and how people on both sides of a conflict need courage in remembering the enemy on the other side,” Jordan said.

Jamie Fiocco, co-owner and general manager of Flyleaf Books, said the store’s mission is to generate discussion with both recognized and emerging authors.

“We want (authors) to be able to present their work to the public,” Fiocco said.

“That’s part of our role in the community. Really, we’re just facilitating discussion.”

In the case of Willimon’s novel, those discussions are already being had.

“What’s really exciting is that some teachers are having their students read the book in religious classes,” Willimon said.

“I think that’s great because they’re saying, ‘Hey kids, this is what the church looks like with its clothes off. This is what it really looks like.’ And that pleases me.”

Contact the desk editor at arts@dailytarheel.com.