×

WWII novel chosen as topic

One Book / One Community encourages discussion

A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel set during World War II will be the subject of One Book / One Community.

Libraries throughout Trumbull County will be encouraging their patrons to read Anthony Doerr’s “All the Light We Cannot See” and participate in book discussions and other programs in March.

The book is set primarily in France and Germany during WWII. Alternating chapters are told from the perspectives of a blind Parisian teen who flees Paris with her father after the Germans occupy the city and a German orphan who becomes a master at building and fixing radios, a talent that makes him desirable to the German military. Doerr is a Cleveland native who now lives in Idaho.

Cheryl Bush, public relations manager of the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library, said the book was chosen after collecting suggestions from its staff and voting on four titles through its website.

“We wanted suggestions that would be entertaining and also educational,” Bush said. “We wanted a book that was award-winning and would raise interesting topics for discussion … It won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction (in 2015) as well as several other prestigious awards. Also the author grew up in Cleveland so there was kind of an Ohio connection.”

Participating libraries include the Warren library and its branches in Brookfield, Cortland, Howland, Liberty and Lordstown; the McKinley Memorial Library in Niles; Kent State University at Trumbull in Champion; and the Hubbard and Newton Falls public libraries.

Lorena Williams, director of the Hubbard Public Library, said, “These days, with public library funding being such a struggle, it’s important to show the legislature that libraries are doing their best to pool resources and collaborate to continue to provide unique experiences for our communities.”

The 545-page novel will be available at participating libraries in regular and large prints formats, eBook and book-on-CD copies. Nearly all of the participating libraries will host book discussions.

“The primary focus is on reading the book, talking about it, sharing opinions, questions and insights,” Bush said.

Several programs also are planned to provide additional information about what life was like when the story takes place or to touch on ideas raised by the story. Since one of the main characters is blind, the Hubbard library will have a station set up by the Keystone Blind Association that will feature Braille and goggles to simulate a visual impairment. Since the other main character is fascinated with radios, there will be morse code demonstrations, information on creating a podcast and a program on “The Power of Radio During World War II” by Max V. Grubb, an assistant professor of communication at Youngstown State University.

“My mantra since coming here as director is we are a community engagement center,” Williams said. “How can we show how books and libraries together can transforms lives and expand, not just in our little community, but in the county and beyond.”

agray@tribtoday.com

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
     

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today