January 28, 2013 In March the Nashville Public Library will launch the second Nashville Reads, a citywide reading campaign to encourage teens and adults to read the same book at the same time as a way of creating a shared experience of reading in the city. Life of Pi, a novel by internationally acclaimed author Yann Martel, is the selection for this spring’s program. On March 2 at 3 p.m., Martel will give a free public lecture at the Nashville Public Library as a kickoff to the event.
“This vibrant novel is a great example of a book that sparks both imagination and contemplation,” Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said. “It’s a great read, and I encourage teens and adults to join me in Nashville Reads and participate in community events and discussions.” Nashville Reads is a program of the Nashville Public Library and is supported by many community institutions. It is a partnership between the office of Mayor Karl Dean, Parnassus Books, Humanities Tennessee, Houghton Mifflin, and the Nashville Public Library Foundation.
The campaign will take place March 2 through April 13 and will consist of moderated book discussions and other events around Life of Pi, including a screening of the film version of the novel. A grand finale will be held at the Nashville Zoo. “It is exciting to continue Nashville Reads with such a timely and thoughtful piece of literature,” said Kent Oliver, Nashville Public Library director. “The library will once again be center stage as we delve into a wonderful piece of storytelling.”
Yann Martel was born in Spain in 1963 of Canadian parents. Life of Pi won the 2002 Man Booker Prize and has been translated into more than forty languages. A number-one New York Times bestseller, it spent sixty-nine weeks on the list and was adapted to the screen by Ang Lee. Martel is also the author of the novels Beatrice and Virgil and Self, a collection of stories called The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios, and a collection of letters to the prime minister of Canada: 101 Letters to a Prime Minister. He lives in Saskatchewan, Canada. To read Chapter 16‘s interview with Yann Martel, please click here.
Last year’s inaugural Nashville Reads selection was The Handmaid’s Tale, a novel by internationally acclaimed author Margaret Atwood. Atwood was also the recipient of the 2012 Nashville Public Library Literary Award.
The Nashville Public Library Foundation, established in 1997, has raised more than $25 million to enhance the programs, facilities, and collections of the Nashville Public Library, including the exquisite Grand Reading Room, the Bridgestone/Firestone Conference Center, the beautiful Robinson Courtyard, the Civil Rights Room. It has added more than 150,000 items to library collections. The Foundation also supports the award-winning preschool literacy program, Bringing Books to Life, funds art exhibits and a job-search lab, and presents the Nashville International Puppet Festival.
The Nashville Public Library maintains a collection of more than 1.6 million items, including books, periodicals, DVDs, CDs, audio books, and downloadable audio books. The library also offers more than 600 public-use computers and free art exhibits, educational programs, and events for all ages. NPL also offers 24/7 reference assistance, online databases, interlibrary loans and special collections, including the Metropolitan Archives and The Nashville Room. For more information, call (615) 862-5800 or click here.
For more updates on Tennessee authors and book events, please visit Chapter 16’s News & Notes page, here.
