Friends of the Claremont Library
 
The 2011 Book will be announced April 3rd at the Spelling Bee.  After that, look for information here about events and activities related to the chosen book.
We would like to thank the following people for their work on the book selection committee:
Rose Ash
Tina Brooks
Ken Corhan
Deckard Hodge
Naomi Howland
Jennifer Mawhorter
Lanore Pearlman
Garry Schnieder
Ellen Taylor
Linda Yao

On The Same Page
Our 2013 Book Selection:
Take One Candle Light A Room, by Susan Straight

The On The Same Page committee of the Friends of the Claremont Library is pleased to announce this year’s selection for our community read: Take One Candle Light A Room, by award-winning author Susan Straight. Each year numerous works of fiction and nonfiction are reviewed for their suitability for this program. The main goal of the selection committee is to choose a book that will generate broad community discussion around issues of topical concern to residents of Claremont.

 

Take One Candle Light A Room is a work of fiction, and was awarded the prestigious Lannan Prize. Straight has published seven novels, all set in the fictional town of Rio Seco, California, which loosely parallels her home town of Riverside. Reflecting on her choice of setting, Straight quotes writer Joan Didion: "You have to pick the places you don't walk away from." In addition to teaching creative writing full-time at U.C. Riverside, Straight contributes to KCET.org. 

 

Copies of Take One Candle Light A Room will be available at the library to check out, or for purchase at the Friends' Spring Book Sale, April 18, 19, and 20. Throughout the year public events are planned to engage the community in discussion about the book. Educators are encouraged to incorporate the book into curriculum activities.


Watch this page for more information.
On the Same Page Program Description
   The Friends of the Claremont Library (FOCL) sponsors the annual citywide reading program:  Claremont: On the Same Page.   The idea behind the reading program is to engage as many people as possible in a discussion of one book as the basis for a common experience and for the pleasure of reading.  Local reading groups and educators are contacted as well and encouraged to read the book as part of their activities or curriculum.  

  In 2007 the first book chosen  to kick off this new program was John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row.   Every year, the committee plans a number of local events to discuss the book and topics related to the book during the month of October, often including a talk by the author (Steinbeck declined).  The final event is a reception  celebrating those who participated in the Essay Contest. 

   A book selection committee meets in the fall to select the book for the following year.  Needless to say, there is always much excitement and anticipation of the announcement of each year’s book.

 We encourage you to join us in reading these books.  We look forward to participating with all of you at the events planned for October.  Even if you are unable to make any of our events, we encourage you to read it and discuss it with your friends.  Hundreds of people in our community each year read the book and get "On the Same Page" with their neighbors and friends.
PREVIOUS "ON THE SAME PAGE" BOOKS:
2007 - Cannery Row, John Steinbeck
2008 - Distant Land of Our Fathers, Bo Caldwell
2009 - The Soloist, Steve Lopez
2010 - The God of War, Marisa Silver
2011 - Into the Beautiful North: A Novel, Luis Alberto Urrea
2012 - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot