River Falls Reads 2012
February 1 - March 7, 2012
Books available at locations around town - borrow, return, share.
Copies also available for checkout.
Grand Opening
by Jon Hassler
Events
- Essay contest entries due
Tuesday, January 31 at 5pm
- Gretchen Hassler
Wednesday, February 1 at 7pm in the Lower Level Community Room
Gretchen Hassler, wife of the author, talks about Hassler and his
work.
- Teen Book Discussion
Tuesday, February 7 at 4pm in the Board Room
Wingshooters, by Nina Revoyr
- Life in a Small Town: Sharing Stories
Sunday, February, 12 at 1pm in the Main Level Meeting Room
Mayor Don Richards will read from his book, Kinnickinnic Country.
Winning essay contest entries will be read. For coziness, hot soup
& bread will be served.
- Church Ladies’ Cook-Off with Janet Martin
Thursday, February 16 at 6pm at the First Congregational Church
6pm - Cook-Off
7pm - Speaker - Janet Martin, author & humorist: “Hot Dishes, Hot
Pads and Hot Flashes”
First Congregational Church which is located at110 N. 3rd St.
Cook-Off Tickets are $1.00. Tickets available at library, Hope
Lutheran, United Methodist, First Congregational, Luther
Memorial, Abundant Life, Ezekiel Lutheran, and St. Bridget’s Catholic
church.
- Kids’ Out-of-School Event
Monday, February 20 at 1pm in the Lower Level Community Room
Event activities based on The Boxcar Children.
- Grand Opening Readers’ Theatre
Sunday, February 26 at 2pm in the Lower Level
Performance of a condensed stage version of the book.
- Film - The Love She Sought
Tuesday, March 6 at 7pm in the Lower Level Community Room
Screening of The Love She Sought, based on Green Journey, Hassler’s
only book to be made into a film.
Community Book Discussions
- Thursday, February 23 at 2pm
River Falls Public Library in the Board Room
Discussion Leader: Tom Rasmussen
- Monday, February 27 at Noon
St. Croix Lanes Bowling Alley
Lunch Available for Purchase
Discussion Leader: Bobbie Kuhn
- Tuesday, February 28 at 7pm
River Falls Public Library Discussion in the Board Room
Leader: Heather Johnson
- Thursday, March 1 at 6:30pm
West Wind Restaurant
Menu/Bar Items Available for Purchase
Discussion Leader: Dave Wood
River Falls Reads 2012 Essay Contest -
pdf
“You want to be where everybody knows your name.”
The novel
Grand Opening focuses on a family’s move from Minneapolis
to the fictional, small Minnesota town of Plum, and the resulting
triumphs, challenges and trials they go through in adjusting to their
lives there.
- Did you grow up in a small community? Move to one?
- Perhaps you have lived in River Falls all your life?
- Do you have a story about one of those people or situations that
make small town living unique and special?
If so, you are invited to take part in an essay contest focusing on
something humorous, poignant, endearing, or just plain silly on the
theme of:
My Favorite Memory of Living in a Small Town
Contest Guidelines:
- Two contest divisions: Youth (under 18); Adult (over 18).
- Deadline for entry is 5 pm, Tuesday, January 31, 2012.
- Each essay is limited to a maximum of 600 words.
- Essays must be typed and double-spaced.
- Essays may be submitted in either hard copy or electronically.
- Please include a separate title page with your name, age, address and
a telephone number at which you can be reached during the day. Do NOT
put your name anywhere on the essay itself.
A panel of three distinguished River Falls residents will judge the
essays.
Winning essays will be read, either by the author or a designee, at a
special River Falls Reads program on Sunday, February 12 at 1 pm
featuring Mayor Don Richards who will read from his book Kinnickinnic
Country.
Submit essays by January 31 in person or by mail to:
Nancy Miller
River Falls Public Library
140 Union St., River Falls, WI 54022
or via email to:
nancym@riverfallspubliclibrary.org
About the Book
Twelve-year old Brendan tells the story, set in 1944-45, that begins
with his parents' decision to buy a run-down grocery store in Plum, a
tiny Minnesota town. What they discover about small town idealism,
bigotry, and good old American values will change them and the town
forever....
About the Author
Jon Hassler (March 30, 1933 - March 20, 2008) was an American writer and
teacher known for his novels about small-town life in Minnesota. He held
the positions of Regents Professor Emeritus and Writer-in-Residence at
St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota.
Discussion Groups
Want to get in on some stimulating conversation? Book discussion
groups will be held at the library & other venues, various dates &
times, with great discussion leaders from our community. Watch for
further info! Attend several! Consider this book for your bookclub;
one of our leaders can help!
Questions to Ponder & Discuss
Small towns and religious differences are fertile ground for
banter and serious philosophical examination.
- How do we decide when other people’s negative behavior gives us
the right to stop being “our brother’s keeper” or “loving our
neighbors as ourselves”?
- Is a religious divide like Plum’s a thing of the past?
- Are we better, now, at opening our hearts & minds to those who
don’t practice the same religion as we do?
- Is real friendship harder or easier to find in a small town than
in a larger city?
- Why might that be so?
- Why do small towns have more than their share of “characters”?
- Or do we just think that because they “stick out like sore
thumbs” in the smaller environment?
- Are we more likely to “see” virtues or flaws when we look at
others?
- What motivates our gossip and the flavor of it?
- What impact does it have?
Committee Members
- Bonnie Carroll
- Mary Greatens
- Heather Johnson
- Nancy Miller
- Michael Norman
- Susan Pescheck
- Phil Pfuehler
- Jean Ritzinger
- Jera Terreng
- Gretchen Toman
- Marshall Toman
Thanks to:
- River Falls Journal
- River Falls Community Theatre
- First Congregational Church
- Discussion Leaders
- Participating Churches
Sponsored by:
- River Falls Public Library
- River Falls Public Library Foundation
