Support for Go Read in the Richmond metropolitan area is growing. While you are reading this article, area high-school students, book club members, faith groups, seniors, people in area businesses, and many solitary individuals are reading Ernest J. Gaines' A Lesson Before Dying.
The goal of Go Read is simple - to get as many people as possible reading and discussing the same book at the same time. This isn't a new idea, but it's new to Richmond. Our project is modeled after the successful One City-One Book program in Seattle; Chicago; Portland, Oregon; and Rochester, New York.
This has been a community-driven initiative that started small, but like a snowball rolling down a hill, it has grown. Last year a VCU instructor sent an article to Richmond Times-Dispatch columnist Ray McAllister about the reading program in Rochester. McAllister wrote a column that pondered whether Richmond should have its own community book project. He wrote a subsequent column posing the question, "What book would Richmonders choose to read together?"
Thus the seeds were planted for the idea to get all of Richmond reading and discussing one book at one time. I contacted McAllister to find out more about the response he had from his articles and to get contacts in cities he referenced. We were joined by Mary Flinn, executive director of New Virginia Review; Rob Rieffel, city librarian; and Missie Hersey, Friends of Richmond Public Library, and met several times to collect information and resources and to address the challenge of selecting the book.
THE IDEA was given a jump-start last November at Metropolitan Richmond Day, the annual community breakfast hosted by Hope in the Cities. One of the speakers, Dr. Billy Cannady, Superintendent of Chesterfield County Schools, spoke proudly about a remarkable program that had taken place at James River High School. He recognized Ann Reinke and Ann Martin, the media specialists at James River High School, who had an idea, developed a program, secured funds, and bought enough copies of one book to give to each student at the school to read and discuss. The book read and discussed at JRHS was A Lesson Before Dying.
The "Library Anns" joined the organizing committee along with many other volunteers who have given their time and energy and embraced this project. Funds and in-kind contributions were raised from Richmond's generous business community to support this project. A complete list of volunteers and contributors may be found on the Website.
The name Go Read was chosen as it played off the successful visual-arts project Go Fish. Unlike other cities where programs were initiated by public libraries for adult readers, the committee voted unanimously that area high schools should be part of the planning. For year one, A Lesson Before Dying was selected because it is not only an award-winning book, read in many other cities, but because Gaines is an author approved by schools and his book was already on many area high-school summer reading lists. The JRHS project provided SOL and curriculum information for public schools to use.
Over the summer area libraries and bookstores stocked up on copies of the book, and now the Go Read project is underway. While getting more people reading is an admirable endeavor in and of itself, the goal of Go Read is much bigger. We want people to discuss the book as well.
Many of the subjects in A Lesson Before Dying are provocative, controversial, and intriguing. 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. Race relations, inequity, and the death penalty are just some of the topics explored in this novel.
While the book is suitable for adult and high-school readers, its tone and language may not be suitable for younger children. Younger readers and parents who want to participate in this project can find recommendations for all age levels on our Website at www.goreadrichmond.com.
MANY PEOPLE who have been reading the book have asked how to start discussion groups. Area public libraries are distributing this information to book groups at no charge. Each Go Read Toolbox contains one copy of the book with a bookplate, a reading guide, and 10 lapel pins.
The bookplate concept is unique to the Richmond project. While we certainly encourage individuals to purchase the book - and other books, for that matter - the primary purpose of Go Read is to read and discuss. Therefore, we're asking readers to read the book, then sign the bookplate and pass the book along. Give it to a co-worker, family member, friend, or neighbor. People can even leave the book in places around town. Why not leave a copy in your doctor's office; at the hairdresser or barbershop; or even on a city bus?
The culmination of this year's Go Read project will be a visit from the author on December 12, 2002. Gaines will do a videoconference with students during the day. At 5:30 p.m. at the Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St., Gaines will read from his novel. This reading will be free and open to the public and followed by a brief reception. For other Go Read events - and there are many - I encourage you to visit our Website.
Go Read isn't just a one-time event. We have a dedicated group of volunteers already working on next year's book selection. We've envisioned Go Read to be a three-year initiative, with each year growing in size and stature. So far, we're off to a great start.
Sandy Stoddart is one of the founding steering committee members of Go Read and executive director of the Circuit City Foundation.
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