Reading project kicks off Tuesday

Carson City and Douglas County libraries are partnering for this year's community reading initiative of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" set in post World War II London.

"It is such a wonderful book," said Andrea Moore, outreach director for the Carson City Library. "It's quite delightful, but at the same time has some serious overtones. It's a strong book."

This is the library's third Capital City Reads project, following last year's highly successful project highlighting, "Three Cups of Tea," which included a visit from author Greg Mortensen.

This year's theme is Novel Destinations, and will include at least two discussions where participants will be encouraged to not only discuss the book, but to compare it to other novels with comparable subject matters.

Some of the suggested topics are interesting destinations, war-time fiction, strong women and complicated relationships.

Capital City Reads kicks off Tuesday with a distribution of the novel on a first-come basis from 2-6 p.m. in the auditorium of the library.

Inspired by the book club in the novel, Moore also will be showcasing a database at the library, which allows readers to search a variety of titles by a particular author or on a certain subject.

"They don't operate their book club in the same way a book club today does," Moore explained. "Instead of the group reading the same book and discussing it, each member selected their own book of interest then they gathered together to share.

"That's kind of a neat way of introducing different genres to people."

She's hoping the database will encourage readers to sample new material as well as encourage suggestions for a library-sponsored book club she would like to initiate as part of the community reading project.

The highlight of the project will be an April 14 visit from author Annie Barrows, who finished the book for her aunt Mary Ann Shaffer after her death in 2008.

Other activities include making Ukrainian Easter Eggs and showing of films "Shining Through" and "The Whale Rider." The culminating event will be a performance by a New Zealand dance theater.

Moore said she hopes this year's project continues with the momentum gathered last year.

"It's an opportunity to engage the community and exchange dialogue," she said.