Well-Read: Rhode Island Picks Its Book of the Year
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
A Rhode Island tradition now in its tenth year, the Reading Across Rhode Island selection of Geraldine Brooks’ Caleb’s Crossing has just been announced! I am proud to say that I’ve been involved with this incredible One Book–One State project since its inception when coincidentally my radio show, Reading With Robin, also began. Reading Across Rhode Island is a program designed to bring Rhode Islanders together through reading.
Louise Moulton of the Providence Public Library has been with the program since the beginning and shares, “Little did we know, when a group of about 60 librarians, educators and readers from across the state gathered at the Providence Public Library to begin planning for Reading Across Rhode Island (RARI) in 2002 that we would still be meeting 10 years later!”
She says that the program really took off when the author of the selected title for the first program, David Baldacci, “generously agreed to lend his support and guidance in helping the committee to develop the program.” Baldacci visited Rhode Island five times helping to promote this new project and set the bar high for the successful programs to come. Other honored titles have included Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees, Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTPicking a winner
Choosing the titles for RARI is no easy task. A committee of about 25 volunteers selects the title. Suggestions are asked for on the www.ribook.org site and also at the May Breakfast. (more on that later) This year’s process began with about 18 titles and the volunteers read the suggestions then defended or dismissed them at monthly meetings that happened between September and November. Alice Beckwith, Immediate Past President of the RI Center for the Book, talks about some of the specific criteria for the choosing of the winner. “The RARI selection should be appealing to both women and men and be appropriate for a range of readers, from age 14 to the senior citizens.” It needs to be a good story with universal themes. These themes are explored during the many library and school events that occur from January until May.
Official kick-off January 22
The first chance for participation happens on Sunday, January 22nd –the official kick-off date! A range of about 25 libraries, 20 public and private high school and 60 book groups as well as many individuals participate at this event each year. This is an opportunity for participants to gather publicity materials, resources and ideas for events and programs to support the discussion of the novel in their library, school or book club. This year’s kick-off will be held at the Newman Congregational Church in Rumford, RI from 2-4pm, please register for this and all events by visiting www.ribook.org.
I am honored to have the pleasure, once more of being the honorary co-chair for this year’s May Breakfast, which is the culmination of the RARI project. Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 5th! I am betting on this Breakfast being a sell-out and there are always people who wait until the last minute to register. There are typically 400-800 guests who come to hear the keynote speaker, the RARI author and the Q&A portion of the morning is always a lot of fun! Check the Web site from time to time to see when the registration will be. Tables are often reserved and are filled with friends, families, book club members and the enthusiasm for the project and reading is palpable. Titles are tossed around and attendees are busy scribbling so as not to miss a single one!
With a new host, the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, a talented group of individuals on the RI Center’s Board of Directors and the twenty-five dedicated volunteers coordinating the program, this tenth year should be spectacular, showcasing Caleb’s Crossing, by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Geraldine Brooks.
Reading enthusiast and all around "book-pusher" Robin Kall can be heard live Saturday mornings from 7-8am on Reading With Robin WHJJ 920AM. Also streaming live at www.920whjj.com. Follow on Twitter @robinkall, and Facebook - Reading With Robin. All new Web site! www.readingwithrobin.com
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