The Big Read 2008

Call the Downers Grove Public Library at (630) 960-1200 for tickets to see author Elizabeth Berg, who will discuss her book Dream When You’re Feeling Blue as part of The Big Read on Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m. at Ashton Place, 341 75th Street, Willowbrook. Advance registration is required by phone only, and patrons may reserve up to four tickets. Patrons from The Big Read libraries, including the Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Indian Prairie, La Grange, La Grange Park, Lisle, Thomas Ford, Westmont, or Woodridge libraries, can pick up their tickets at their home libraries beginning April 27. All other patrons may pick up tickets at the Downers Grove library, 1050 Curtiss St.

Many of The Big Read libraries have displays and exhibits related to World War II. At the Downers Grove Public Library, a window display offers a look at posters from “The World in Flames,” an exhibit from the National Archives which commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the war. The posters document the conflict from many points of view, including Allied and Axis, home front and battlefront, and general and foot soldier. The posters will change every few weeks.

During March at the La Grange Park Public Library, you can view collage mobiles by the veteran inpatients at Edward J. Hines Hospital Extended Care Center, created during recreational fine arts meetings.

Starting February 1, The Big Read resource guide is available at the ten local libraries participating in this annual community reading event. The guide includes information about all programs and book discussions as well as reading resources for this year’s book, Dream When You’re Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg.

Attend a thoughtful and entertaining book discussion at any of the participating libraries. Read Dream When You’re Feeling Blue with your book group and use discussion questions from the resource guide. Sign up for a program and learn more about the World War II era. Make plans to hear Elizabeth Berg talk about the book on May 8.

Patrons may begin registering for programs once they pick up a guide. Call participating libraries to register for each program. Sign up for Elizabeth Berg’s visit begins Wednesday, April 16.

You could have heard a pin drop, as E. L. Doctorow paused in his reading from his National Book Critics Circle winning novel The March. Hundreds of readers from eight libraries listened to his tale about the final months of the American Civil War. In the story about Sherman’s march through Georgia and South Carolina, the English journalist Hugh Pryce had just pulled a small, thin slave named David onto his swaybacked mule, and they left the ugly scene of Union soldiers beating and raping a plantation owner’s daughter. Pryce said to himself, this is not your country. This is not your war.

After reading two sections of his novel, the author answered questions from the listeners. Though most members of the audience were over forty years of age, the best question about the story came from a high school student who asked why the author thought it was important to write about the Civil War now. Mr. Doctorow said that Sherman’s march was an innovation in warfare. To move quickly the army did not carry provisions and lived off what it found in its path. As it destroyed towns and plantations, freed slaves and many whites no longer had homes and followed the army north. In the process a culture was destroyed, embittering its survivors and descendants. The scars of the Civil War remain today as we still have racism and regional hatred. Doctorow added that when you write about the past, you also write about the present.

After the presentation, the author signed books for many of the readers who attended the evening.

Before the presentation, General Robert E. Lee answered questions from the audience.

Librarians from Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Indian Prairie, Lisle, Thomas Ford, Westmont, and Woodridge have started planning for 2008. We will announce the 2008 book late in December. We hope to see you next year.