We’re moving into the heart of summer reading season – the ideal time to bring people together virtually to read a single book and probe its themes and deeper meaning.
Boston, Massachusetts (PRWEB) June 26, 2014
The Pulitzer-Prize winning Boston Globe today announced that it has launched the Globe Book Club, a community forum that will enable book lovers across New England to read a novel together and dig into the book's theme and origin story through curated conversations online and at events.
The first title, chosen in a public BostonGlobe.com poll, is ‘Cascade’ by Massachusetts author, Maryanne O’Hara. The book is inspired by the history of the four Massachusetts towns that were flooded in the 1930s and wiped off the map to make way for the Quabbin Reservoir. Her historical debut novel follows an ambitious artist who is drowning in a marriage of convenience and traces her journey of self-discovery.
“We’re moving into the heart of summer reading season – the ideal time to bring people together virtually to read a single book and probe its themes and deeper meaning. Greater Boston readers made a great choice: ‘Cascade’ is the perfect book to read during the summer in New England,” said Globe Books Editor Nicole Lamy. This spring, Lamy chose five novels set in New England and posted synopses online for the reader poll. More than 5,000 readers responded, and ‘Cascade’ was the number one choice.
Lamy will tweet out discussion topics each week, beginning in July, and will host weekly Twitter chats about ‘Cascade.’ Readers can participate on Twitter at #GlobeBookClub or @BGlobeBooks on Fridays throughout the summer. Updates will be posted on bostonglobe.com/bookclub.
“Our community is an essential part of the conversation,” Globe spokeswoman Ellen Clegg said. “The Book Club is one of a series of initiatives designed to draw people together around issues they care passionately about.” Continuing the focus on community events, the Globe will again partner with WGBH to provide free concerts and performances in Copley Square during Summer Arts Weekend.
Earlier this year, the Globe launched the GRANT program (Globe Readers And Nonprofits Together), which enabled subscribers to support nonprofits in their own communities by steering GRANT “ad dollars” to the charity of their choice.
The Boston Globe Book Club is partnering with Barnes & Noble stores, which will offer a discount on ‘Cascade.’ If customers mention the Globe Book Club, Barnes & Noble will donate a portion of the proceeds from sales to Globe Santa, a program of the Boston Globe Foundation that has been serving children in need since 1956.
To kick off this summer of reading and discussion, the Barnes & Noble store at the Prudential Center in Boston will sponsor an event on June 28, 2014, from noon to 6 p.m., including an appearance by ‘Cascade’ author, Maryanne O’Hara from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
The Globe is also donating copies of ‘Cascade’ to local libraries.
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Contacts:
Ellen Clegg, Executive Director of Communications, The Boston Globe, 617-929-3339, ellen.clegg(at)globe(dot)com, @ellenclegg
Mary Zanor, Elevate Communications, 617-548-1107, mzanor(at)elevatecom(dot)com, @Maryloganz