2009 is the year to get involved in Santa Monica’s Citywide Reads! Become a volunteer book discussion group facilitator.
Prospective discussion facilitators read the book selected for the program, and attend a two-hour training session February 5th or 7th. This year’s selected title is The Shadow Catcher by Marianne Wiggins. Trained volunteers commit to leading at least one hour-and-a-half book discussion group, scheduled at various venues in Santa Monica from March 7th through April 4th. For Information call the Library (310) 458-8646 or visit the Santa Monica Citywide Reads website www.smpl.org/cwr
Did You Know?
…About Book Clubs
- Benjamin Franklin led a book group in Philadelphia in the 1770s and book clubs flourished in nineteenth-century America.
- Nancy Pearl, executive director of the WA Center for the Book from 1993 to 2004, initiated the “One Book” movement in 1998. She’s also the model for the first Librarian Action Figure!*
- Only 6% of Americans say they participate in book discussion groups where difficult ideas are exchanged (Gallup Poll, Sept. 1999)
(*http://www.mcphee.com/laf/)
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Mark Your Calendars : March 7 - April 4
The dates for Citywide Reads 2009 are set! Free book discussions and special events are being scheduled for March 7 to April 4.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
The Shadow Catcher is our 2009 Title
The Shadow Catcher, by Marianne Wiggins is the 2009 Santa Monica Citywide Reads featured title.
In The Shadow Catcher, Marianne Wiggins intricately weaves two stories of family history, personal loss, and landscape. One narrative follows a fictional Marianne Wiggins who has written a book on Edward Curtis and is called to the death bed of her father, a man she knows died when she was a child. The other narrative follows Edward Curtis and his family, who traveled across North America to photograph Native peoples through his imagination and lens at the turn of the twentieth century. Photographs from the Curtis archives and the Wiggins family album add to this reflection of myths and truths.
When the Citywide Reads Advisory Committee met, we unanimously selected this novel. We loved it that it combined a historical fiction narrative with contemporary social commentary on Los Angeles. We look forward to some wonderful book discussions and we are already planning programs exploring Edward Curtis, Native American culture, and photography as well as hosting local author Marianne Wiggins.
In The Shadow Catcher, Marianne Wiggins intricately weaves two stories of family history, personal loss, and landscape. One narrative follows a fictional Marianne Wiggins who has written a book on Edward Curtis and is called to the death bed of her father, a man she knows died when she was a child. The other narrative follows Edward Curtis and his family, who traveled across North America to photograph Native peoples through his imagination and lens at the turn of the twentieth century. Photographs from the Curtis archives and the Wiggins family album add to this reflection of myths and truths.When the Citywide Reads Advisory Committee met, we unanimously selected this novel. We loved it that it combined a historical fiction narrative with contemporary social commentary on Los Angeles. We look forward to some wonderful book discussions and we are already planning programs exploring Edward Curtis, Native American culture, and photography as well as hosting local author Marianne Wiggins.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
There's Still Time to Suggest a Book for 2009!
We are still accepting suggestions.
Did you love our selection and want more like it? Did you wish we had chosen something else? Now is your chance to let us know what you want to read with your community.
Book suggestions must be works of fiction that appeal to a variety of people. Appropriate titles should challenge yet be accessible and inspire discussion. Only novels available in a variety of formats such as paperback and audiobook will be considered. The deadline for suggestions is July 31, 2008.
Please email citywidereads@smgov.net, post a comment here, or stop by your local library to make suggestions.
Did you love our selection and want more like it? Did you wish we had chosen something else? Now is your chance to let us know what you want to read with your community.
Book suggestions must be works of fiction that appeal to a variety of people. Appropriate titles should challenge yet be accessible and inspire discussion. Only novels available in a variety of formats such as paperback and audiobook will be considered. The deadline for suggestions is July 31, 2008.
Please email citywidereads@smgov.net, post a comment here, or stop by your local library to make suggestions.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Take our survey!
Santa Monica Citywide Reads Survey
Tell us how you participated in Citywide Reads 2008; give us suggestions for next year's Citywide Reads.
Tell us how you participated in Citywide Reads 2008; give us suggestions for next year's Citywide Reads.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Jim Lynch Visits Santa Monica
On a very warm afternoon last Saturday, Jim Lynch spoke to an enthusiastic audience of The Highest Tide readers. He read from his book, talked about his inspiration and experience of writing the novel, and answer audience questions.
Many thanks to Santa Monica College and Santa Monica College Associates and the California Center for the Book for making this event happen.
Many thanks to Santa Monica College and Santa Monica College Associates and the California Center for the Book for making this event happen.Thursday, May 15, 2008
The Cover Me! Teen Book Cover Art Contest Winner Revealed
The winner is Hannah, age 13. She created the cover shown below and stated, "The paparazzi made the comment 'the beach talks to Miles,' and Miles says in one instance, 'the beach is trying to tell us something.' My cover has a shellphone. It is supposed to be symbolic of the beach 'speaking' to Miles, and his special knowledge of the bay."
Congratulations, Hannah! She will meet Jim Lynch for lunch this Saturday before the author appears at 3:00 at Santa Monica College.
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