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Reading and Discussion Schedule |
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Windham County ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mysterious Lens on American Culture. In these mysteries, mayhem and murder play out against a cultural/ethnic backdrop – illuminating more than simply whodunnit. Led by Francette B. Cerulli. Grafton Public Library, Mondays, 7:00 p.m. Call Linda Montecalvo, (802) 843-1444. April 7 ~ P. L. Gaus' Blood of the Prodigal
Founders & Presidents of the Past. This series, part of an ongoing discussion program leading up to the 2008 Presidential election, combines biographies and histories of four of our founding fathers, as well as four 20th century Presidents Post WWII. Delve into the lives and leadership of these influential Americans. Led by Deborah L. Luskin. Brattleboro, Brooks Memorial Library, Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m. Call Jerry Carbone, (802) 254-5290. April 9 ~ Joseph Ellis' American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson May 14 ~ David McCullough's Truman June 11 ~ Stephen Ambrose's Eisenhower July 9 ~ Robert Dallek's An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963 August 13 ~ Irwin and Debi Unger's LBJ: A Life September 10 ~ Garry Willis' Nixon Agonistes: The Crisis of a Self-Made Man October 8 ~ Lou Cannon's President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime October 22 ~ The Declaration of Independence October 29 ~ The Constitution of the United States
Graphic Novels. This series will attract reluctant and avid readers alike. Graphic novels present sophisticated stories in comic book format, employing both visual and literary techniques to engage the reader. Teenagers will especially find these books engaging. Led by Eric A. Bye. Bellows Falls, Rockingham Free Public Library, Mondays, 5:00 p.m. Call Samantha Maskell, (802) 436-4270. March 24 ~ Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2 March 31 ~ Art Spiegelman's Maus: A Survivor’s Tale April 7 ~ Ron Marz's Sojourn: From the Ashes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Windsor County ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
People and Other Animals. Using novels and works of natural history, this series stimulates discussion on the intricate, differing ways that humans relate to creatures of other species. How do human and animal societies resemble each other? How have animals come to symbolize certain qualities to humans? How do they live in our imaginations as opposed to the way they live in life? Springfield Town Library, 7:00 p.m. Call Nancy Tusinski, (802) 885-3108. April 3 ~ William Wharton's Birdy. Led by Patricia M. Stuart. May 1 ~ Richard Adams' The Plague Dogs. Led by Patricia M. Stuart. June 5 ~ Elizabeth Marshall Thomas' Reindeer Moon. Led by Richard M. Wizansky.
Honor. What is honor? How has the understanding of honor changed from culture to culture, era to era? How does one resolve the competing claims of honor when, for example, personal honor diverges from family honor, from national honor? Led by Suzanne H. Brown. Norwich Public Library, Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. Call Mary McKenna, (802) 296-2191. March 25 ~ Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities April 8 ~ Walker Percy's Lancelot April 22 ~ Maryse Conde's I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem May 6 ~ Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence June 17 ~ Kamala Markandaya's Nectar in a Sieve
Meet the Victorians. For some people, Victorian evokes images of overstuffed furniture and repressed, sanctimonious people, but for the Victorians themselves, life was anything but stuffy and staid. This series takes readers beyond stereotypes to a better understanding of the Victorians and ourselves. Hartland Public Library, Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. Call Theresa Gregory, (802) 436-2473. April 16 ~ Charlotte Bronte's Villette. Led by Rachael Cohen. May 21 ~ Charles Dickens' Hard Times. Led by Francette B. Cerulli. June 25 ~ Anthony Trollope's Can You Forgive Her? Led by Rachael Cohen. July 16 ~ George Eliot's Daniel Deronda. Led by Rachael Cohen.
Natalie Bober's A Restless Spirit: The Story of Robert Frost. Read and discuss Bober’s insightful biography of Robert Frost, the 2008 Vermont Reads book. Led by Eric A. Bye. Chester, Whiting Library, 3:00 p.m. Call Karen Morris, (802) 875-2277. April 9
Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. If anything can be labeled the “Great American Novel,” then this it. The pre-Civil War-era story of Huck, a troublemaker from the lower class of white southern society, and his travels with Jim, a fugitive slave whom Huck treats as an equal, was highly controversial in its day (and still occasionally makes “banned books” lists), but went onto to greatly influence American literature. Led by Eric A. Bye. Chester, Whiting Library, 3:00 p.m. Call Karen Morris, (802) 875-2277. May 14
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Office in Montpelier
11 Loomis Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 802.262.2626 Fax: 802.262.2620 E-mail: info@vermonthumanities.org |
