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Readers discovering more books through 'Tale' talks
By Susan J. Conrad
Daily News Correspondent
Feb. 11, 2006
CORFU , Patricia Coleman made sure she arrived at Corfu Free Library
Thursday night with enough time to check out two new books before the
book discussion group started its monthly meeting.
Among the books she took home that night was the seventh in a series
that she started reading after discovering the author at a previous
meeting of the discussion group.
She has attended the group's meeting since they started four years ago
for the 'A Tale for Three Counties' community reading project.
During February and March, libraries in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming
counties are hosting book discussions about A Northern Light by Jennifer
Donnelly, who will visit each county in March.
Coleman said she used to read, but had gotten out of the habit until
the 'Tale' project arrived.
"My daughter-in-law was planning to come to the (discussion) and
asked if I'd like to come along with her," Coleman said. "It's
gotten me back on track."
Coleman says the group has enriched not only her choices in reading
material, but also her life with the friendships she has made.
Other group members said they are also reading books in genres they
would not have read on their own.
Deb Zauner said she only read mystery novels before joining the group.
"I would come in the library and wouldn't even look at books in
other sections," Zauner said. "My husband says the group has
helped make me less morbid."
Heather Coleman, Patricia's daughter-in-law, said she likes setting
a good example for her 11-year-old son by broadening her own horizons.
By knowing she is going to discuss the book with others, Heather Coleman
said she is also motivated to make sure she reads at least one book
a month.
"Sometimes I have time to pick up something else," Coleman
said. "But sometimes it's hard to find the time to get the one
book finished."
Zauner also reads differently when she knows she will be discussing
the book with other people. She said she has become more observant and
widened her vocabulary.
Rita Schafer comes to group meetings with notes she wrote while reading
the month's selection.
All of the group's attendants enjoyed A Northern Light, which is set
in 1906.
Zauner said she hasn't always enjoyed the selections for the 'A Tale
for Three Counties,' but she was drawn into this book by the story and
by the author's writing style.
The book is classified as young adult fiction. Group members said they
didn't feel like they were reading a book written for children. While
she think it has good messages for teen girls, Zauner said it would
have to be a mature girl who reads the story and can pick up on all
the messages the author is sending, such as overcoming odds and making
the best of your given situation.
"This book really opened my eyes to what life was like for girls
back then," Zauner said. "They were girls, they weren't women."
A Northern Light is inspired by a true story. The fictional story of
Mattie Gokey, a 16-year-old who must make an important life decision,
is paired with the real-life murder of Grace Brown. The combination
gives Grace's death a purpose.
Donnelly, Zauner reasoned, didn't want Grace 'to have died for no reason.'
Zauner read the author's notes, in which she explains her reasons for
writing the story, after reading the novel.
"I'm glad I read them after, because it allowed the book to unfold
before me," Zauner said. "I was even excited when I read the
notes. I thought it was a pretty intense thing for her to do."
Courtesy of Batavia Newspapers Corporation