Summer wraps up in a few weeks but readers in the Kootenays are preparing for colder months by stocking up on reading material as the Rossland Library releases its Rossland Reads 2011 titles.
This year’s titles include Too Close to the Falls: A Memoir by Catherine Gildiner defended by Carol Markowsky, The Woefield Poultry Collective by Susan Juby defended by Sarah-Jane English Christensen, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee defended by Dawn Leithead, and The Bishop’s Man by Linden MacIntyre defended by Francine Weigeldt. With Rossland Reads 2011, the library wanted to do something new by asking a member of four different book clubs to act as a panelist.
In addition, Rossland Reads is pleased to announced that local author Almeda Glenn Miller will act as the host and entertain book lovers with her own lovely humour that she is renown for.
The four panelists will debate and defend their book of choice and its merits at the amusing and lively weekly series. The free event will be held on Tuesday evenings from November 1-22 from 7 to 8 p.m. at Café Books West, located at 2063 Washington Street. Free drip coffee, tea and goodies will be available.
The event began last year as a way to promote the local library and the joy of reading. Assistant Librarian Beverley Rintoul views the event as a fun way to get people reading titles that they might not have read otherwise.
“Rossland Reads is a great way to bring new or lesser known books into the public eye,” said Rintoul.
Café Books West co-manager Michele Skuce also saw last year’s event as a huge success.
“We had people sharing books and meeting at the events and it generated a lot of positive feedback.”
Skuce noted that one regular customer said it was nice for her husband to connect with other male readers.
“It was also a nice way for [the couple] to get out together to something fun. It’s a great opportunity to promote both the store and reading in Rossland.”
Last year, the event also spurred one of the panelists Christine DeMarco, a local teacher, to start a similar event at MacLean Elementary.
Book lovers wanting to get their reading done in advance will receive 10 percent off of the Rossland Reads 2011 titles when ordered through Café Books West and they can also reserve them at the local library in the upcoming weeks. The library books were just received and should be in the system shortly.
Local readers can also find more information about Rossland Reads online at http://rosslandreads.wordpress.com/.