HAMILTON – This Thursday, April 24 will be the commencement of the spring Hamilton Book & Movie Club in Hamilton. The book club runs in three month sessions in which members read a book and later watch the movie that was inspired by it (one book per month). This Thursday members will watch “Twelve Years a Slave” at the Hamilton Theater, which will be followed with a discussion of both book and movie at The Colgate Bookstore. A light dinner and refreshments will be provided.

“This season's theme is 'Best Picture Nominees,’” said Heather Elia, coordinator of the book club. “(The book club) is nice because there is a core group that comes all year round and a rotating group that joins when they can. Everyone is very friendly.”

While the deadline to sign up for the book/movie review on Thursday has passed, people are still welcome to join for the remaining two book/movie reviews. In following with best picture theme, the next book is “A Captain's Duty” by Richard Phillips, which will be viewed on May 29. Martin Sixsmith's “Philomena” will follow and will be shown on June 26.

Sharon Fox, a member of the club for four years, said, “I like the books and the movies. I like to get to talk about it with people of varying ages.”

Fox looks forward to “Twelve Years a Slave,” which is the harrowing, true story of Solomon Northup who is living as a free man in New York until he is captured and sold into slavery. He is finally freed 12 years later and writes of his experiences – a story which serves as a poignant and compelling condemnation of slavery.

“I hope it (the movie) is as good as the book,” she said. She likes that this novel is historical and is an autobiography. “You can empathize with his (Northup's) feelings from the very beginning. That carries through the whole story,” she said.

“A Captain's Duty,” is also a true, more contemporary account of the captain an American cargo ship who is taken hostage by Somali pirates after they board his vessel. The book and movie explore the five day stand-off and Captain Phillips' courageous fight to save his crew and stay alive.

“Philomena” is the heart-wrenching story of a young woman in 1950's Ireland who is sent to a convent and forced to give up her baby. Fifty years later she decides to locate him and allows a journalist to document her story.

Elia invites anyone interested in the book club to contact her. “I think it's a great way to meet other people in the community,” said Elia. “Everyone feels welcome.”

Currently there are 18 members but the club can expand to include up to 30 members. The cost for the two remaining sessions is $42, which includes the books, admission to both of the movies, and dinner during the after-movie discussion. Basic membership is $22 and includes admission to the movies and dinner during the after-movie discussion.

For more information contact Elia at helia@colgate.edu or by calling (315) 228-6944.