Local Events?

[Carl]

Has anyone had any participation in the GAR on a local level? Maybe through a school or public library?


My local public library always has a children and teen summer reading challenge. This year they introduced one for adults as well. It was a bingo card with book genres populating the squares with the GAR booklist on the back organized by those genres. If you read a book, you could write it down on your bingo card. Each bingo was entered in the drawing for a basket full of reading goodies:

* book light
* coffee mug with "Just One More Chapter" written on it
* a box of "Novel Teas"- Earl Grey tea with bookish quotes on the tag
*a Fleece throw
* book bag
* $5 gift certificate for the next library used book sale
* Kindle fire.

I was able to get in three bingos and came out the big winner! The contest is over but I'm still going through the list. It's a fantastic resource for the age old, "What shall I read next"? question. I never would have known about it if it hadn't been for our excellent and creative librarians.

Any one else have any other run ins with the GAR outside of the show (and here of course)?

[Tasha]

That sounds like a lot of fun, Carl, and congrats for the win!

We had a bingo card this summer that I meant to work on but I forgot. I am going to try to dig it out of my pile of papers and see if it's still going on (officially summer's end maybe) and see if I may have read enough of the right books to get a bingo. I think our prize is a gift card to a local bookstore.

My library had a table for GAR books and for Bingo books.

[Lavan, moderator]

Aside from donating books occasionally, I haven't frequented my local library in years. I buy instead of borrowing, because I share my home library (both e-library and print) with family members, and I reread favorites. I'm often impatient to begin a book straightaway and prefer to read at my own pace without the pressure of deadlines.

I did check my local library's website after reading this, Carl, because I was curious if they offered a similar incentive as yours did. It doesn't seem as though they do, but I'd have to visit in person to be sure. They do have a Great American Read display and copies of the list available, which is nice.

I think it's fantastic that your library had a GAR Bingo with an assortment of wonderful prizes, and congratulations on your win! A Kindle Fire—wow! I'm assuming that the mug in your profile picture is the one you won. I love it!

I'm glad you're continuing with the GAR list even though your local event has concluded, and happy to see you're reading our October selection And Then There Were None. I hope you'll share your thoughts with us about it when you're ready!

[Carl]

Yes, that is the mug, and the tea! I'm a library nerd. I forgot to mention that they did have a display shelf and a few of the official posters put up.

I'm glad there's a group here that's continuing on with the list.

[Lavan, moderator]

"Library nerds" are one of the best kinds of nerds.

Thank you for joining our group, Carl! We're happy to have you.

I see you're reading our current group selection, 1984 . I hope you're enjoying it!