Alamance Reads chooses local for program launch
Krista Naposki / News Editor
Friends of the Library in Alamance County launched its first
Alamance Reads campaign this month with Doug Marlette’s
book “The Bridge.”
“We wanted something that was fun and very inviting,
inclusive,” said Susan Holland, program chair.
The program lasts six weeks. The Kick-off Celebration began
Feb. 1 and the grand finale is March 19. Events range from
book discussions to a Southern-style cooking contest and art
exhibits. “We wanted a book to have programs beyond
book discussions, we wanted to have tie-in directly to the
community,” Holland said.
Marlette spoke at Elon on Sunday in Whitley Auditorium about
the adaption of “The Bridge” into a film.
Paramount Pictures and Tom Cruise’s production company
have bought the rights to “The Bridge.”
Marlette is originally from Greensboro. “The
Bridge” is about a political cartoonist who gets fired
at his job in Long Island, N.Y. He moves his wife and son
down to Chapel Hill and must reconnect with his family.
Planning for Alamance Reads started last March. The group
decided that a fiction book written by a North Carolinian
author in a North Carolinian setting would be best for
Alamance Reads. They also determined that the author should
be alive and have a stage presence for events. “I know
some wonderful writers but they don’t want to leave
their houses,” said Holland.
After determining the basic requirements, subgroups read
dozens of books to find the best fit. They chose three books
to be voted on by the general public. They were “Plant
Life” by Pam Duncan, “Lunch at the
Piccadilly” by Clyde Edgerton and Doug Marlette’s
“The Bridge.”
The public approved Marlette’s novel with a 60 percent
vote. Friends of the Library aren’t sure whether they
would like to do the program every year or every two years.
The only regrets organizers have about Marlette’s novel
is that the book is currently not available in audio, Spanish
or large print.
Upcoming Alamance Reads Events
Feb 25
“Sacred Cows/Holy Hamburger: The Art of Doug
Marlette”
Author Talk and Art Exhibit; 7:30 p.m. at Mebane Arts Center
March 3
Book Discussion; 2:00 p.m. at the ACC Learning Resources
Center
March 5
Southern-style cooking contest; 5 pm. at Iron Gate Winery,
Mebane
March 7
Panel Discussion: Our Textile Heritage; 2 p.m. at the ACC
Auditorium
ACC (Alamance County Arts Council) is located at 213 South
Main St., Graham.
For a complete list of events, visit
http://www.alamancereads.com.
Contact Krista Naposki at pendulum@elon.edu or
278-7247.
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