The Wilkinson County book club takes up Jesmyn Ward's Where the Line Bleeds and lands on something bigger than plot: how to listen. What starts as a debate about parenting, responsibility, and small-town pressures becomes a practice in hearing one another with patience and respect. The men weigh different views of Seeley's choices, talk honestly about their own families, and keep circling back to a shared theme: choices shape us, and listening helps us make better ones.

Along the way, the group reflects on how reading together has changed their day-to-day communication. They describe catching themselves before reacting, asking for clarity, and trying to understand where someone is coming from. You'll hear the familiar sounds of the facility in the background, but what stands out is the care the men bring to the room and to each other.

In our next episode, the club spends a holiday inside Where the Line Bleeds and inside the prison, sharing memories of Christmas, hope, and what it means to show up for family.

Hidden Mirrors is recorded with the support of Management Training Corporation, the facility operator, and produced in collaboration with the Mississippi Humanities Council's statewide prison book clubs.

Credits:

Host & Writer: Alan Huffman

Co-Editor: Erisa Apantaku

Associate Producers: Amanda Zaremba & Matt Stroud (Amphibian Media)

Audio Production: Red Caiman Studios

Music: Robert Connolly Farr

Support: Mississippi Humanities Council | Funding: McMullan/O'Connor Fund