Book club

Get your free copy and join us in the SoIN Big Read!

Harrison County Public Library, The Floyd County Library, Jeffersonville Township Public Library, Jeffersonville Public Art Commission, and Community Action of Southern Indiana are partnering with the Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana for the SoIN Big Read to promote a regional community reading event around The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.

Over 1,000 copies of the much-heralded novel, which was written in 1984, will be distributed at no cost throughout Southern Indiana. Harrison County Public Library will start distributing books on Monday, October 11 at each branch. The SoIN Big Read website notes that this book is best suited for high school students and adults, due to topics involving domestic and sexual violence.

“The House on Mango Street approaches the complexities of living life and growing through struggles of cultural, social, and gender challenges. It is a book for everyone,” said Brian Bell, Executive Director of the Arts Alliance of Southern Indiana. “We have chosen this title because of its broad spectrum of relatability to a diverse community. The sharing of stories that expose struggle and aspiration in everyday life connect us and strengthen community.  This is our intent with our Big Read.”

On November 6 at 11:00 a.m., Harrison County Public Library will hold a SoIN Big Read Walking Book Discussion at Rice Island in Corydon (if inclement weather occurs, the walk will move to the YMCA in Corydon).  Read The House on Mango Street and join in a book discussion while walking at the newly renovated Rice Island Park in downtown Corydon!

Two large community projects – “Hashtag Trees” and “Dream and Anchors Project” – are centered around this book will take place over the next few months. For more information about the SoIN Big Read, please visit www.soinbigread.com.

 

Titles for your next book club (bonus: they are available from OverDrive)

Shelley Gulley, circulation assistant at the Lanesville branch of HCPL, recommends the following titles for your next book club read.
In addition to these titles, OverDrive is holding the Big Library Read through April 13. Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic by Michael McCreary is available to download (with no wait list!) as an eBook and audio book, and you can participate in the online book discussion.
If you do not have an HCPL card, OverDrive offers you a free digital access card using your mobile number.

“So many books, so little time! As an avid reader, I enjoy a variety of genres from romance to mysteries to bestsellers to biographies and historical fiction. This list of books includes those I have enjoyed as well as my book club, hopefully you will too. Happy reading!”
– Shelley

Please click a title to view on OverDrive

1. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (OverDrive eBook and audio book)

2. The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (OverDrive eBook)

3. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes (OverDrive eBook and audio book)

4. Educated by Tara Westover (OverDrive eBook and audio book)

5. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (OverDrive eBook and audio book)

6. We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter (OverDrive eBook and audio book)

7. The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth (OverDrive eBook)

8. Becoming by Michelle Obama (OverDrive eBook and audio book)

9. Still Alice by Lisa Genova (OverDrive eBook and audio book)

10. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris (OverDrive eBook and audio book)

11. Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (OverDrive eBook and audio book)

12. The Dutch House by Ann Patchet (OverDrive eBook and audio book)

13. Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout (OverDrive eBook and audio book)

14. The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See (OverDrive eBook)

15. The Guest Book by Sarah Blake (OverDrive eBook)

HCPL readers can participate in Together We Read

Harrison County Public Library joins nearly 16,000 libraries and thousands of readers across the country in offering the first Together We Read digital book club selection. From February 19–March 4, HCPL patrons can enjoy and discuss award-winning author Pat Simmons’ new Lean on Me romance ebook for free with no waitlists or holds. Readers can access the ebook with a valid library card by visiting Indiana Digital Download Center or by downloading the Libby app, and then participate in an online discussion.

The Together We Read digital book club connects readers in America through public libraries with the same ebook at the same time. This two-week program only requires an HCPL card to get started. Together We Read is facilitated by Rakuten OverDrive.

Lean on Me tells the story of Tabitha Knicely, a woman overwhelmed with sorrow and exhaustion caring for her beloved great-aunt, whose dementia is getting worse. When her neighbor Marcus Whittington accuses Tabitha of elder neglect, he doesn’t realize how his threats to have Aunt Tweet taken away add to Tabitha’s pain. Then Marcus gets to know the exuberant elderly lady and sees up close how hard Tabitha is fighting to keep everything together. Tabitha finds herself leaning on Marcus more and he’s becoming more than happy to share her burdens.

Lean on Me is published by Sourcebooks. More information can be found at TogetherWeRead.com.

Shakespeare and Elizabethan-era education

A graffiti artwork of famous playwright William Shakespeare in central London, UK.

The Shakespeare Book Club met on Tuesday, January 14. During the meeting, Charles Eckart, former Assistant Professor of English at the Military Academy at West Point, addressed the group and led discussion in their continuing series on Shakespeare. Mr. Eckart spoke about typical Elizabethan schooling programs during Shakespeare’s youth. Schooling at that time would have begun at the age of 4, would have lasted through 6 days of the week, 12 hours each day. Latin grammar and literature were the only subjects studied. Friday mornings were reserved for punishing those students who were caught speaking English instead of Latin while at school. The discussion of Measure for Measure focused on why this is considered a problem play at the same time the tragedies of Hamlet, King Lear and Othello were written.

On February 11, the Shakespeare Book Club will focus on Elizabethan family and societal customs, including discussion of The Merry Wives of Windsor. Close attention will be paid to Falstaff, the character who speaks the most lines of any of Shakespeare’s creations.

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