Chapter One Book Group
Chapter One is a community of friends committed to enriching our lives through shared experience of the written word and meaningful discussion. The group was established in January 2008 and is currently celebrating its sixteenth year.
Each month, Chapter One dives into a new book selected directly from group nominations. Selections can vary as much as our members.
The group continues to meet and celebrate literature each month in the Chillicothe area of Ohio.
January 2025
Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs
Surrealism / Science Fiction
Published in 1959
Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs is a groundbreaking and surreal novel that defies conventional narrative structure, blending elements of science fiction, crime fiction, and psychological horror. Set in a nightmarish world of addiction, conspiracy, and disillusionment, the book follows the fragmented journey of its protagonist, William Lee, as he navigates a labyrinth of drug-induced hallucinations, shadowy government agencies, and bizarre, often grotesque characters. Burroughs employs a nonlinear, cut-up technique to craft a narrative that is deliberately chaotic and disorienting, challenging readers to engage with the text on a visceral level rather than relying on traditional storytelling conventions.
The novel's title, Naked Lunch, refers to the raw, unfiltered experience of life that Burroughs depicts—one in which reality and illusion blur, and individuals are subjected to the horrors of their own desires and the oppressive forces of society. With its unflinching exploration of addiction, control, and the human psyche, Naked Lunch remains a controversial and influential work that reshaped the boundaries of modern literature. Its unsettling portrayal of a world in decay is both an indictment of postwar culture and a profound meditation on the nature of consciousness itself.
This meeting for discussion of Book #205 is currently scheduled for January 11th at 5PM.
February 2025
Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi with Curt Gentry
True Crime
Published in 1974
This meeting for discussion of Book #206 is currently scheduled for February 8th at 5PM.