About Go Read!

Two newspaper columns last year ("If Richmond Read the Same Book," April 20, 2001, and "What Should Richmond's Book Be?", April 26, 2001) brought the idea of a metropolitan area reading one book at the same time to Richmond readers.

It wasn't a new idea. Rochester, N.Y., was doing it. Rochester had stolen the idea from Buffalo. Buffalo stole it from Seattle.

Within a few months, five people met at The Times-Dispatch to see if it could work in Richmond: Sandy Stoddart, director of the Circuit City Foundation, Missie Hersey, owner of Picture This custom framing; Mary Flinn, director of New Virginia Review, Robert D'O. Rieffel, city librarian; and Ray McAllister, Times-Dispatch columnist. Eventually, a tentative go-ahead was given for a three-year program. One book would be read and discussed throughout the community each fall, to be followed by a visit by the author. The program could have a lasting impacting on the people of Richmond, and Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico counties. It could increase community interaction, bring major authors to a new audience, promote discussion between adults and young people, and bring more people into libraries and book stores.

The idea was greeted enthusiastically elsewhere, too. Meetings upon meetings were held. Stoddart, who would emerge as a leader, brought on Leadership Metro Richmond to help with organization. New Virginia Review would handle business aspects. The Times-Dispatch would run a web site. Carter Ryley Thomas would provide promotional help. Individuals were asked to serve on committees. Corporations were solicited for money. Scarcely a one refused any request.

Schools, libraries, bookstores, reading organizations and book groups jumped in. Government officials lent support. Of particular help were the librarians of James River High School in Chesterfield County, where a similar school-wide project took place during the 2000-01 school year. The book used at James River, like the book used in many city programs, was the award-winning "A Lesson Before Dying" by Ernest P. Gaines.

"A Lesson Before Dying" was quickly chosen as the inaugural Richmond book. (What will be the next two?) And the title of the project became "Go Read" -- after the previous' summer's successful and quirky Go Fish!" program, which populated the Richmond area with sidewalk fish statues.

The announcement was made on June 5:

=======

GO READ! Project To Bring Richmond Area Residents Together to Read, Discuss One Book

Local Programs Planned for June – November 2002

Richmond, Va., (June 5, 2002) – Remember last year’s successful Richmond Go Fish! project, which celebrated area artists? Now it’s time for area residents to celebrate again; this time a book will be the hook with Go Read!

Today, local business and civic leaders in the Richmond metropolitan area kicked off the area’s first Go Read! project. Modeled after successful One City, One Book programs in Seattle; Chicago; Rochester, N.Y.; and other cities; Go Read! promotes reading, discussion and community togetherness around a single book, "A Lesson Before Dying," by renowned author Ernest J. Gaines.

The book, published in 1993, is set in 1940s Cajun Louisiana, and is a tale of a young black man wrongly convicted of murder and a disillusioned teacher who struggles to help him face death with dignity. "A Lesson Before Dying" won the 1993 National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction and was a September 1997 Oprah’s Book Club selection.

The goal of Go Read! is to have as many adults and young adults as possible in the Richmond area reading and discussing the same book, at the same time. In September and October 2002, special programs will be held in the community related to the book, including a public reading with the author.

"This is a chance for everyone in the community to have a shared experience," said Sandy Stoddart, one of the organizers of Go Read! " The book is on many summer reading lists, so students will get a jump start. We are announcing the project now, so organizations will include reading and discussion of `A Lesson Before Dying’ in their fall programs. We want people to share this book with their families, co-workers and friends. Along with reading the book, we want people to talk about it too."

In the fall, area public libraries will be giving a copy of the book, a reader’s toolkit and some Go Read! lapel buttons and book plates to interested groups.

"One way for people to get involved in the project is by reading the book, pasting the bookplate in the inside cover of the book, signing it and passing the book along to others to read," Stoddart said. "And of course, we want people to wear the lapel button."

"A Lesson Before Dying" was read by most of the students at James River High School in Chesterfield County earlier this year. The success of that project prompted the selection of the book for the Richmond region’s Go Read! initiative.

"There was an overwhelming response to the book," said Billy Cannady, superintendent of Chesterfield County Schools and co-chairman of Go Read! "Students and teachers at the school were engaging in lively and provocative conversation about the subjects in the book."

Go Read! is a not-for-profit community alliance, bringing together community and business leaders in an effort to promote literacy and civic involvement in the Richmond metropolitan area. Sponsors of Go Read! include: SunTrust, Circuit City Foundation, Dominion, Ukrop’s, the Retail Merchants Association, Media General, Verizon, Carter Ryley Thomas Public Relations & Marketing Counsel, Leadership Metro Richmond and the Richmond Junior League Book & Author Dinner.

More information about upcoming events can be found at the Go Read! Web site www.goreadrichmond.com or by calling the Go Read! office at the Richmond Public Library at 804-646-0290.

GO READ
c/o Richmond Public Library
101 E. Franklin St.
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 804.646.0290
Email: GoReadRichmond@aol.com
Web Listing: E-mail your GO READ Web site