PINE PLAINS — Having crafted the perfect love story about pursuing lasting connections in a time when such connections are vital for navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, author Madeleine Henry joined the Pine Plains Free Library’s March Book Club meeting on Thursday, March 4, to discuss her new book, “The Love Proof.”
According to Amazon.com, “The Love Proof” details the story between Sophie Jones and Jake Kristopher and how it inspires Sophie, a physics prodigy, to pursue her study of the nature of time, determined to prove “that true loves belong together in all realities.”
At the gathering, club members gathered via Zoom to discuss Henry’s novel with Pine Plains Free Library Assistant Alexis Tackett, who led the group in a brief discussion about the book before Henry appeared shortly after they began.
Fascinated by Sophie, the group discussed the elements that composed her character as well as the idea that, for Sophie, “achievement doesn’t feed the soul, connection does.”
Considering the story’s pace, some readers felt it was slow to start but picked up toward the middle; others felt they were able to get into the story quickly. Reflecting on the idea of new love as captured in Henry’s novel caused readers to reminisce their own stories of first loves with the group.
When Tackett asked if they thought Sophie’s potential was wasted when she fell in love with Jake or whether it gave her the finer things of life, readers considered which they would choose and shared their thoughts on Sophie’s path.
It wasn’t long before the group welcomed Henry, who enthusiastically shared her excitement to be there. Delivering an overview of Henry’s career, Tackett highlighted the author’s two novels, “Breathe In, Cash Out” and “The Love Proof,” both of which have been reviewed by publications like The Washington Post and The New York Post. She also revealed that Henry is a 2014 graduate of Yale, where her characters in “The Love Proof” first meet.
To start the Q&A, readers asked Henry how much research she did for her new book, given all the content related to physics.
“To me, this is first and foremost a love story and is, to me, a very unique and emotional love story,” Henry said, “and so the research process, I view all the facts as enhancing and heightening the emotion and so I would always start emotion first and I would think, ‘OK, what do I really want people to feel?’ and then I would try and find a fact to go along with that.”
When talking about “how materials that fuse together in a vacuum space could never be separated,” Henry said she really wanted to tighten the intimacy of the moment and how connected her characters are and find the facts to elicit that emotion.
Describing her research process as “very dispersed,” she referenced an interview featuring SpaceX Founder Elon Musk. She said when Musk was asked how he learned so much about rockets, he said he read books. For Henry, she said “anything you want to find the answer to” can be found online, which led to a lot of scavenging around for the facts she found the most compelling for telling the love story.
From the first inkling of the idea for her book to the finished novel, Henry revealed that the process for writing “The Love Proof” took about three years, the bulk of which involved a year of intensive writing followed by revision.
When asked what she studied at Yale, she replied that she studied psychology to pursue her fascination with the human mind, an interest she indulges when writing.
As the author engaged with her readers on a personal level, she shared her thoughts on her characters, responding to questions thoughtfully and with warmth. Responding to her readers’ curiosity about the ending of “The Love Proof” and whether there will be another book to continue Jake and Sophie’s story, Henry said if the story is adapted and becomes a film or TV series, then she’ll write a sequel because then there will be enough people craving more Jake and Sophie.
She’s going to wait until then, when people make a real demand to find out what happens next before writing a follow-up story on the characters featured in “The Love Proof,” said the author, although she admitted having created connections with her own characters, even she said wants to see how things play out.
After celebrating the release of her new novel, “The Love Proof,” in February, author Madeleine Henry answered questions from area readers regarding her creative process and character development at the Pine Plains Free Library’s Book Club meeting on Thursday, March 4. Photo submitted
After celebrating the release of her new novel, “The Love Proof,” in February, author Madeleine Henry answered questions from area readers regarding her creative process and character development at the Pine Plains Free Library’s Book Club meeting on Thursday, March 4. Photo submitted
"They had this in mind from last year," girls varsity head coach Les Funk of Pine Plains said. Funk said the young team wanted the sectional title and "never gave up," until they won it Wednesday, March 5, at Mount Saint Mary College.Photo by Nathan Miller
Naveah Rennie, no 34 of Pine Plains, was the Bombers' dominant scorer, racking up 20 points by the end of the matchup against S.S. Seward Institute during the Section IX Class C finals at Mount Saint Mary College on Wednesday, March 5.Photo by Nathan Miller
Lent: Time to consider social gospel movement
We are entering the annual Christian season of Lent this week.With its 40 days of contemplation and “little Easter” Sundays, it is a time to remember the healing ministry and the sacrifice of Jesus.During this season, we are invited to think deeply about our role as agents of grace and love in our hurting world.
There is a long history of making sacrifices and commitments for Lent, modeling our discipleship and hopes for a more heavenly world. It is through this lens that I invite you to join us in considering what gifts and services the community needs that we can commit to bringing forth in the weeks leading up to Easter.While many lean into solitary introspection during Lent, it may be particularly advantageous to use our meditations and sacrifices for the greater good this year.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, advised his followers centuries ago that “The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness but social holiness. Faith working by love is the length and depth and breadth and height of Christian perfection.”These words are connected to the firm belief of Wesley that a Methodist was fundamentally one who loved God with all their heart, mind, strength, and soul, along with loving one’s neighbor as oneself.He believed that being in love with God naturally also required loving other people, as every person was a beloved soul coming from the same source of life that we are.
Consequently, Wesley stood against slavery long before it was a popular view, prioritized caring for those who were poor and imprisoned, and made a point to do good to as many as he could for as long as he was physically able.
Indeed, the Methodists are not the only Christians who believe such things.These thoughts are primary messages of the Christian faith.In more recent history, we can note that during the time of the Golden Age, at the end of the late 19th century, the Christians mobilized to counteract the abject poverty, child labor, dangerous working conditions, and lack of education of the time.Famous theologians such as Washington Gladden, Walter Rauschenbusch, and W.E.B. DuBois began the Social Gospel movement, enacting with new verve the passion of Christ that empowers the community toward building the Kingdom of God.As Christians, they believed in uplifting the downtrodden and creating a community where all had a chance to thrive.Child labor laws were enacted, better working conditions were secured, Sunday School helped provide education, settlement houses were created, and the Salvation Army was born.
The social gospel movement continued in another wave of reforms and empowerment through the Civil Rights era.Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his intellect, energy, and life to help secure the reforms that enabled persons of color to vote, go to non-segregated schools, and have the right to share public spaces without discrimination.Like Christ, he paid the ultimate price for his prophetic vision.However, his impact on our society was formidable, lasting far beyond his short lifetime.
As Christians, it is very clear what to do in times of hardship, crisis, or challenge.Throughout the centuries, our call has been to help heal the world, doing whatever we can to uplift and transform loneliness into community, reminding each one how precious they are and how important it is to unite for the sake of the whole.Individually, the challenges can be overwhelming, even too much to bear.Collectively, we can do all things through the One who strengthens us.As they say, “We have the receipts!” We can do it again.
This Lent, let us give up our pessimism and fear, replacing it with a commitment to community and hope.Yes, things can seem dreadful, but our souls are not served by allowing ourselves to descend into the dark.We are keepers of the light.Let us do all within our power to create brightness so that its warmth may strengthen all as we live into the Social Gospel movement for our time.Chin up, friends, we can do this.We simply must be willing to get serious about doing it together.
Rev. Dr. Anna Crews Camphouse is pastor of Canaan, Lakeville, Millerton, and Sharon United Methodist Churches
Lead Pastor of the Northwestern Hills Cooperative
Parish UMC