Tar River Reads is a community wide reading program designed to inspire as many people as possible in the Twin Counties to read a selected book during a given period of time. During the month of September, we're encouraging community members to read A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines and to see the theater production at the new Booker T. Theater in downtown Rocky Mount.

 

A Lesson Before Dying, first published in 1993, is an Oprah's Book Club Selection. The Chicago Tribune said of it "This majestic, moving novel is an instant classic, a book that will be read, discussed and taught beyond the rest of our lives."  Various community organizations, including Braswell Memorial Library, H.D. Cooley Library, and Nash Community College, are collaborating to make this "One Book, One Community" a successful start to what we hope will become an annual event in the Twin Counties.

 

Ways you can participate in Tar River Reads:

·         Read the book! Braswell Memorial Library owns multiple copies, as well as three audio books, and two study/activity guides. NCLive gives you access to the Cliffs Notes for the book.

·         Attend a lecture/discussion on A Lesson Before Dying at Braswell Memorial Library on Tuesday, September 6 or 27 at 6 pm.  Dr. Vivienne Anderson from North Carolina Wesleyan  College will speak about the book and facilitate a discussion of it on those two dates.

·         See the production of the A Lesson Before Dying at the Booker T. Theater: September 16, 17, 23, 24, 25.

·         Encourage friends, your book club, co-workers, and random strangers on the street to read the book.

·         If you own a small business or manage a team of people, buy a copy of the book and share it with everyone.

·         Join our Tar River Reads Facebook page to learn more about events and to access discussion guides and reading materials.

Want to receive weekly updates on events affiliated with Tar River Reads through September 2011? Email

tarriverreads@gmail.com with "Updates" in the subject line to be added to our distribution list.

 

Mayor David Combs presents a City proclamation declaring September 2011 as Tar River Reads Month to Jane Blackburn, Braswell Memorial Library Director.

 Let's Talk About It Book Discussion Group

Join us this fall to read and discuss the theme "Affirming Aging." Books on this year's list are:

• Sept. 15 - Memory of Old Jack by Wendell Berry
• Sept. 29 - Having Our Say by Sarah L. Delany et al
• Oct. 13 - Water For Elephants by Sarah Gruen
• Oct. 27 - Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence
• Nov. 10 - Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner 

Discussions will be held every other Thursday night in the Warner Meeting Room from September 15 to November 10. Pre registration is suggested. Books will be available for pick up from any staff member on the second floor beginning August 25th. Teachers may earn 1 CEU renewal credit for attending all five sessions.

Book One

Book Two

Book Three

Book Four

Book Five

Two classes of tutors have been trained so far and have been paired with adult learners. The Board of Directors of the Literacy Council is hard at work laying the groundwork for a strong organization. Interim officers are William Parker (Chair), Cephus Haynes (Vice-Chair), Nellie Lyons (Secretary), and Deborah Farmer (Treasurer). Dr. Bertha Haynes has been appointed Executive Director. The group is in the process of gaining 501c3 status as a non-profit agency so that serious fund raising can begin.

Please see the Twin Counties Literacy Council webpage at http://www.braswell-library.org/Twin_County_Literacy.htm 

Left to right: Bertha Haynes, trainer; Irene Brown, Curtis Jones, Uteen Hargrove, Dollie Daniel, Dessie Clark, Renee Johnson, Sarah Hankerson, Arlene Turner, Chaka Jones, Lee Robinson, Carolyn Lewis. Not shown: Albert J. LaRose, Jacqueline Davis