Read the book first

It's ironic that I am asking everyone on San Juan Island to read Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, because I myself had never read it before last week. This particular work was never required reading in my school days, and I tend to avoid anything associated with the word "classic" in my recreational reading choices.

I did fall in love with Gregory Peck watching the movie version on the late show when I was a teenager, and it was a superb film. It is very seldom, however, that any movie can do justice to a full-length novel. As great as Mr. Peck's performance was, it cannot compare to reading the original work.

This is one of the reasons that I suggest reading the book before you see the San Juan Community Theatre's play, opening February 28. Understanding the full depth of the story gives a much greater appreciation of the dramatic production, whether on the stage or the screen.

San Juan Island Reads is the name of the San Juan Island Library's portion of a larger effort called Beyond Black and White: the Roots of Intolerance. Along with reading the book and seeing the play, you will have the opportunity to participate in several other community events attempting to place the issues of justice, intolerance, and hate crimes in the context of our own time and our own neighborhood. It has been very exciting to see this collaboration of organizations come together to explore a single theme.

Participating in this project are the San Juan Island Library, San Juan Community Theatre, San Juan Island School District, Skagit Valley College's San Juan Center, several members of the local legal community, and all the local bookstores.

Events will include:

February and March: Read the book! Start a conversation with a high school student, who read (or is reading) the book in 9th grade.
February 28 - March 9: San Juan Community Theatre production
March 13, 7.30 pm at the library's meeting room: Community discussion of the literary, cultural and social issues in the book, led by Dr. Richard Fadem, professor of literature at Skagit Valley College and formerly of Claremont College. Panelists from various backgrounds and professions will also participate.
March 20, 7.30 pm at a location to be determined: an exploration of legal issues, the concept of justice, hate crimes and discrimination with Charlie Silverman and other legal professionals.
March 27, 7.30 pm at the San Juan Island Middle School Commons: Virginia Whitehouse, an Inquiring Mind speaker and an expert in media law, ethics and journalistic coverage of hate crimes, will relate Alabama of the 1930s to San Juan Island of the 21st century.

I am thrilled to say that all ten of the library's copies of To Kill A Mockingbird are currently checked out, as well as the two audio versions and the movie. All of the books are on a special 10-day checkout, so call us at 378-2798 if you'd like to place a hold.

Lauren Stara
Director, San Juan Island Library
phone number 360.378.2798
e-mail lstara@sjlib.org

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Read the book first