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About the
Program
Sponsored by the Pasadena Public Library, One City, One Story is designed to
broaden and deepen an appreciation of reading by compelling friends,
families and neighbors to share their experience while reading the same
book. In doing so, the program engages the community in dialogue, bringing
it together by promoting
tolerance and understanding through differing points of view.
One City, One Story is based on a successful program that started in Seattle
in 1996 and has spread to other cities across the country. Pasadena's One
City, One Story began in 2002 with the selection of Mark Salzman's The
Soloist. The inaugural program was enthusiastically received and
followed with Leif Enger's Peace Like a River (2003),
The Kite Runner (2005) and Kindred (2006)
In response to overwhelming community demand generated by the success of the
program, One City, One Story became an annual tradition. Each March,
Pasadenans come together to celebrate both the importance and joy of
reading.
The Book
A book selection committee, which includes neighborhood residents,
professional writers, book critics and librarians, narrows a list of around
thirty initial recommendations to a select list of five titles. Following
careful and often spirited deliberation, the title is selected and shared
with the community with much fanfare.
Events
The Authors Forum provides community members with the opportunity to dialog
with the author. Book discussions are held throughout the community at the
Central Library and branch libraries, neighborhood centers, and other
locations. Discussions are focused around specific themes covered in the
book of choice. Previous themes included racial diversity as in The Soloist,
with its immigrant family and Korean cellist; mystery, miracles and the
everyday ordinary as in Peace Like a River and friendship, betrayal and the
price of loyalty as in The Kite Runner.
Last Year…
• Over 20 businesses and community partners supported
the project
• Over 3,549 persons read the book
• Over 2,200 persons attend community forums, book
discussions and programs
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