Boston! It’s about time you held a city-wide reading program. And we’re thrilled that, for their first-ever city-wide read, Beantown has selected DARK TIDE by Stephen Puleo.

It’s a strange, strange story. In January 1919, a 50-foot-tall steel tank filled with 2.3 million gallons of molasses collapsed on Boston’s waterfront, disgorging its contents in a 15-foot-high wave of molasses that, at its outset, traveled at 35 miles an hour.

So much for all the molasses-being-slow cliches.

The wave demolished wooden homes, even the brick fire station. The number of dead wasn’t known for days. It would be years before a landmark court battle determined who was responsible for the disaster.

Oddly, this bizarre and tragic event has been nearly forgotten. I mean, Wikipedia has an article on it, but they have an article on everything. And that makes it perfect for a program like this–a communal learning experience, something of local interest, and generally just a strange, eye-opening true-story. Boston voters clearly know what they’re doing when it comes to picking books.

For more regional picks, check out the last page of our newly updated One Book, One Community catalog.

-David

Calling all One Book, One Community committee members, common reading enthusiasts, book group members and Facebook fanatics!

CommonReads, your resource for One Book, One Community and other common reading programs, has launched its Facebook page. The page includes a live feed of the CommonReads blog as well as other links, photos from the recent First-Year Experience conference, and a discussion board where you all may share program ideas and feedback with one another. I urge you to become a fan!

-Marie

Just announced yesterday, the Maryland Humanities Council has selected Outcasts United: Outcasts United: An American Town, A Refugee Team, and One Woman’s Quest to Make a Difference as the 2010 One Maryland One Book read.

For more on this exciting common reading adoption, visit the new Common Reads blog, dedicated to connecting schools and communites through one book.

There you will also find feedback from program coordinators; videos, links and other author extras; the latest adoption news within the One Book, One Community and First-Year Experience communities; and FREE giveaways (including this one).

If you, or your colleagues, are a part of your community’s One Book program, you do not want to miss this new resource. You may also request or download the new One Book, One Community catalog.

-Marie

We were thrilled to hear that Persepolis was selected as Philadelphia’s new One City Read.  Earlyword posted the story, pointing out that this is “Further evidence that the graphic novel format is gaining acceptance…”   Read the full story HERE. 

Not sure Persepolis is right for your community?  Check out our new ONE BOOK catalog for more suggested titles.  Looking for more graphic novels?  Check out our new GRAPHIC NOVELS & MANGA catalog.  We never sleep.  We have a catalog for just about anything you can think of.  Any suggestions?  We’ll get right on it…

Did anyone know that Ray Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451 completely on a pay typewriter in the basement of a library? It’s true. And even today, endorsed by the National Endowment of the Arts as one of their “Big Read” selections, it remains one of the most popular One Book, One Community choices in the U.S. I mean, check out this list from the Library of Congress website:

Anchorage (Alaska) 2007
Safford City (Graham County) (Arizona) 2007
Fayetteville (Arkansas) 2007
Bakersfield (California) 2005
Carlsbad (California) 2006
Concord (California) 2007
Long Beach (California) 2005
Los Angeles (California) 2002 April
Nevada County (California) 2005
Redwood City (California) 2007
Santa Clarita Valley (California) 2007
Silicon Valley (California) 2004
Sonoma County (California) 2007
Eastern Connecticut (Connecticut) 2003
Glastonbury (Connecticut) 2005
Norwalk (Connecticut) 2008
Jacksonville (Florida) 2003
Palm Beach (Florida) 2002 March – April
Boise (Idaho) 2006
Bloomington-Normal (Illinois) 2005
Kankakee County (Illinois) 2003
Libertyville (Illinois) 2006
Peoria (Illinois) 2008 (TBR)
Allen County (Fort Wayne) (Indiana) 2003
Bloomington (Indiana) 2007 (TBR)
Carmel (Indiana) 2003 (adult) -
Lafayette (Indiana) 2002
Topeka (Kansas) 2007 (TBR)
Baton Rouge (Louisiana) 2008
Bridgewater (Massachusetts) 2008-09 #1 -
Martha’s Vineyard (Massachusetts) 2003 (adults) -
South Hadley (Massachusetts) 2006
Springfield (Massachusetts) 2006
East Lansing (Michigan) 2002
Kalamazoo (Michigan) 2003 Feb. 17- March 30
South Haven (Michigan) 2007
Omaha (Nebraska) 2004
Northern Nevada (and the Tahoe region of northern California) (Nevada) 2007
* State-wide program (New Hampshire) 2007 (TBR)
* State-wide program (New Jersey) 2003
Utica (New York) 2004
Wake County (North Carolina) 2003
Delaware County (Ohio) 2003 July
Greater Cleveland Area (Ohio) 2003 Feb-Apr
Claremore (Oklahoma) 2006
Multnomah County/Portland (Oregon) 2004
Erie (Pennsylvania) 2004
Houston (Texas) 2003
Tacoma (Washington) 2003 Feb.
Sweetwater County (Wyoming) 2007

We’ve produced a Teacher’s Guide, and now, for the reluctant readers in your community, our friends at Macmillan have just published a graphic novel adaptation of the book! But is it right for your community? Well, I guess only you would know. We do have more suggestions–a whole brand new catalog, in fact. Click below to see the PDF, or just write to us at library@randomhouse.com to request a hard copy!

I just learned that the Marquette County One Book, One Community program in Michigan has chosen The Things They Carried as their 2009 read.

Though critics can’t agree whether to call this fine book a novel or a series of linked stories, their acclaim is universal. O’Brien mined his experiences as a foot soldier in Vietnam to write this powerful American classic that unflinchingly examines the myriad effects of war on man. The fighting, the waiting, the monotony, and, finally, the aftermath are all brutally scrutinized in heartbreakingly beautiful prose that captivates and educates readers of all ages. – from the “One Book Marquette” website

Northern Michigan University has also made this book required reading for their entire Freshman class.

Personally, I’m fascinated by the concept of One Book. Does your community have a program? If so, what have you read in the past? This inquiring mind wants to know!

For information and suggestions regarding your One Book program, e-mail library@randomhouse.com. Also, watch for an updated catalog in the coming months, choc full of great new recommendations!

-Marie