Read Together Palm Beach County 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Cheryl Crowley, ImMEDIAcy Public Relations, Inc.
(561) 776-7659 Office
(561) 371-5631 Cell

What's your choice?
It's time to cast your vote for "The Book" for
2010 Read Together Palm Beach County

Finalist books announced; public to vote for their choice from January 7 - February 5; winning book to be revealed on March 1

West Palm Beach, Florida, January 7, 2010 - It is done -- the five finalist books have been announced. Now it's time for everyone in the county to cast a vote for "The Book" they would like to see everyone reading at the same time for the 2010 Read Together Palm Beach County - One Book, One Community countywide reading campaign. The books were announced at a reception today and they are:

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
AN EXPLORATION OF THE AGE-OLD CONFLICTS BETWEEN FATHER AND SON, THE SADNESS OF JAPANESE AMERICANS DURING WORLD WAR II, AND THE DEPTHS OF LOVE...THIS FIRST NOVEL GIVES A GLIMPSE OF THE COLD, CRUEL DAMAGE CAUSED BY WAR TO THE HEARTS AND HUMANITY OF INDIVIDUALS. 

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
IS IT FICTION OR MEMOIR? A NOVEL, OR A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES? THIS MASTERPIECE DEPICTS THE MEN OF ALPHA COMPANY DURING THE AUTHOR'S TOUR IN VIETNAM AS THEY BATTLE THE ENEMY AND, OCCASIONALLY, EACH OTHER. IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS, WE SEE THE ISOLATION, LONGINGS, LONELINESS, RAGE AND FEAR. YET THEY FIND SYMPATHY FOR STRANGERS AND LOVE FOR EACH OTHER.

 Run by Ann Patchett
THIS MODERN DOMESTIC DRAMA DEALS WITH BIG ISSUES TOUCHING US ALL -- RELIGION, RACE, CLASS, POLITICS AND, ABOVE ALL ELSE, FAMILY. BY WEAVING TOGETHER SEEMINGLY DISPARATE LIVES TO SHOW HOW INTIMATELY HUMANS CAN CONNECT, THIS NOVEL EXPLORES WHAT TRULY DEFINES "FAMILY" AND THE LENGTHS WE WILL GO TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.

 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
A REMARKABLE TALE OF THE ISLAND OF GUERNSEY DURING THE GERMAN OCCUPATION, THIS VIVID NOVEL, WHOSE CHARACTERS SPRING TO LIFE IN LETTERS AND TELEGRAMS EXCHANGED OVER THE COURSE OF NINE MONTHS, AFFIRMS THE POWER OF BOOKS TO NOURISH PEOPLE ENDURING HARD TIMES.

 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
THIS IS THE STORY OF A GERMAN FOSTER GIRL IN THE 1940s, WHO SCRATCHES OUT A MEAGER EXISTENCE FOR HERSELF BY STEALING WHEN SHE ENCOUNTERS SOMETHING SHE CAN'T RESIST -- BOOKS. SHE LEARNS TO READ AND SHARES HER STOLEN BOOKS WITH THE JEWISH MAN HIDDEN IN HER BASEMENT BEFORE HE IS MARCHED OFF TO DACHAU. THIS IS AN UNFORGETTABLE STORY ABOUT THE ABILITY OF BOOKS TO FEED THE SOUL.

 From January 7 to February 5, the public can vote for the book that they would like to see everyone in Palm Beach County reading and talking about at the same time. Votes may be cast online at http://readtogether.palmbeachpost.com or by going to the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County's website www.literacypbc.org. Ballots also may be cast at local libraries, bookstores, Starbucks throughout the county or Park Avenue BBQ restaurants. On March 1, "The Book" will be revealed at a press conference. The reading campaign officially kicks-off at the Literacy Coalition's annual Love of Literacy Luncheon on March 26 at the Kravis Center's Cohen Pavilion.

 Once "The Book" is announced in March, it will be available in libraries and bookstores all over the county. Throughout the campaign, libraries, businesses, service clubs, neighborhoods and schools will hold book discussion groups. Additional book events may be set up with homeowners' groups, churches and synagogues, restaurants and homes - wherever people can meet and talk with each other about "The Book". Local libraries will provide a discussion guide with training on its use. The guide and a listing of public events related to the campaign may be found at http://readtogether.palmbeachpost.com. Local PSAs will air urging residents to read and discuss "The Book". The 2010 reading campaign will be seen throughout the county on bus signs, banners, posters, bookmarks, in libraries and local businesses.

 It is estimated that less than 50% of adults in the U.S. will read even one book this year. The Read Together campaign is an effort to get everyone in Palm Beach County reading the same book at the same time to promote the importance of reading and how it affects every aspect of one's life. This will be the fifth Read Together campaign, held every other year since 2002. The Read Together campaigns have been described by many as one of the most successful community involvement efforts ever witnessed in Palm Beach County. Previous books read have included: Fahrenheit 451 (2002), Their Eyes Were Watching God (2004), To Kill a Mockingbird (2006) and The Memory Keeper's Daughter (2008).

 Read Together Palm Beach County - One Book, One Community is a partnership between the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County, The Libraries of Palm Beach County, ImMEDIAcy Public Relations Inc., the Palm Beach County Cultural Council and The Palm Beach Post.

 About the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition
One in seven adults in Palm Beach County function at the lowest level of literacy and approximately one third of fourth grade students cannot read at grade level. The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County is committed to promoting and achieving literacy for adults, children and families. For more information about the Read Together Palm Beach County - One Book, One Community campaign, please contact the Palm Beach County Literacy Coalition at 800-273-1030 or visit www.literacypbc.org.