In every book group I visit, someone has been through something you can barely fathom. At the fabulous all-male book club (homemade liquor, grilled meats!), the guys argued about whether Owen being struck by lightning was a metaphor for midlife crisis or not. They'd identify usual midlife issues, and then someone would say, "But he was actually struck by lightning."

Eventually, they urged one member to reveal his own tribulations. An eye doctor, this man diagnosed his own brain tumor, and after the operation, he experienced such migraines that he took to making beautiful guitars. He's well now, thank goodness, but I was struck by two things. First, the obvious bouncing back and forth between metaphorical and life's actual takedowns. But second, I got to watch this group of buddies and readers, like herding dogs, shepherd their friend into talking about his experience as we sat, awestruck.