"There are places I'll remember all my life - Red Square with a hot wind howling across it . . .

from

"I Am Pilgrim - by Terry Hayes

Not sure If I am going to enjoy this books the opening chapter is very grisly. Have any of you read it please?

"At dawn that morning, a man dressed entirely in black backed his gray Ford sedan up to the curb on Taylor Street." The 23rd Midnight by James Patterson/Maxine Paetro.

It's a gripping story, but I don't know how many psycopathic serial killers they can make up for this series.

Donna

Also:

Reims, France 1916

"The clicking of my mother's knitting needles is the metronome measuring the minutes, hours, months spent in the perpetually cool, dim caves. "

-The Vineyards of Champagne by Juliet Blackwell

"Everyone has a happy place, the scene that comes into view when you close your eyes and let your mind transport you to the dot on the globe where you are cozy, safe, warm."

Sarah Jio, Goodnight June.

"It was long after the buffalo thundered toward a great salt lick in lines, bellowing, snorting, and flicking flies."

When Two Feathers Fell from the Sky -- Margaret Verble

... and yes, I'm reading it anyway because it is my town's One Read book for 2023.

Okay........what is a One Read book ? Where ? Does the library choose it? Is it by popular vote ? Or does the local book seller declare it ? How many of the town's folk read it ? What happens if you don't ? Is there a big discussion circle in the town square ??? Enquiring minds need to know !

Bon

Bon - Here is the long-version of my "One Read" explanation:

There are a lot of One Read programs across the U.S. Some are statewide, some are citywide. They have various names, but ours, in Columbia, Missouri, happens to actually be named "One Read." Ours is sponsored and organized by the Daniel Boone Regional Library, so it includes some smaller towns nearby (Fulton, Ashland and Hallsville), plus a good bit of rural area. It began in 2002, so we are in our 21st year. I happened to move to Columbia in 2002, so I've had the privilege to participate in every one of them. I have liked the vast majority of our One Read books, but it appears this will not be one of my favorite years.

Each year, in October and November, library patrons are invited to submit book suggestions for the next year's One Read. During the winter months, a committee of volunteers culls through the suggestions and each committeeperson reads the top 10-12 books. They have criteria to help them select the finalists, such as: It must be available in paperback so it won't be too expensive for those who wish to buy the book. And the author must be willing to come to Columbia to present a talk about their book around the end of September.

There have only been 3 exceptions to the author visits. One of our books was To Kill a Mockingbird and of course, although still alive at that time, Harper Lee would not come. The library worked with her sister, however, who sent us a copy signed by Harper Lee. That year, the woman who played Scout in the movie came to town instead. And during the pandemic, we had to settle for Zoom sessions with Casey Cep (Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee) and Amor Towles (A Gentleman in Moscow).

Once the committee has selected two finalist books, in April the public votes for their preference. In May the book is announced, the library purchases MANY copies. On the library website, I can see there are 219 paper copies of this year's book available, and numerous downloadable and audio versions also.

The annual program culminates in September, during which many varied activities surrounding the book are planned. Along with the author talk, there are several book discussions led by various local people, such as the town mayor. Some are at the library, others are held at book stores and schools. There are also panel discussions by individuals who are experts on some topic or theme from the book. For example, there is always a "One Read Goes to College night" in which the panelists are all professors from the various colleges in our area. We have the University of Missouri, Stephens College and Columbia College located in Columbia, and we have Westminster College and William Woods University in Fulton. There is also a writing contest, an art contest, and one or two films related to topics in the book.

It's quite a lovely program that I always participate in and always appreciate. Here's a website that explains it all: https://www.dbrl.org/one-read

Kathy, thank you for your explanation ! This sounds just wonderful and I wish we had one in our town. Perhaps I'll present it to our new librarian and see it is something he might investigate.

Bon - I hope you are successful in bringing One Read to your community.

That Veronica and I were given keys and told to come early on a frozen Saturday in April to open the school for the Our Town auditions was proof of our dull reliability.

Tom Lake : a novel by Ann Patchett. I love all of Ann Patchett's books, and I hope this novel proves to be a winner as well.

"When the Selective Service notice comes for Tiger, Kate's first instinct is to throw it away."

Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand

"During the night, I dream that my husband arrives unexpectedly from Manhattan, in a plume of sultry exhaust from the engine of his Buick Battistini speedster, and let me tell you, the intrusion is most unwelcome. "

A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams