One Book One Community

Unifying a community, like reading a good book, requires an understanding of the entire cast of characters and the experiences they share.
The Allegheny County Library Association is pleased to announce our 5th annual One Book, One Community program. One Book programs are bringing communities together for stimulating discussions, and to challenge stereotypes and generate ideas. The goal of One Book, One Community in Allegheny County is to build a better community through reading and civic discourse.
Our fifth One Book selection is:
The Glass Castleby Jeannette Walls
This debut memoir centers on the trials and tribulations of a homeless family, told from the point of view of one of the children. The book encompasses themes of love, family, and redemption. Set in various locations throughout the United States, The Glass Castle details the effects of being homeless on families and specifically children.
The One Book, One Community choice for middle schoolers is Money Hungry which chronicles the adventures of Raspberry Hill as she struggles to earn enough money to keep poverty and homelessness at bay.
Through our One Book programs and discussions, we hope to broaden perspectives, share thoughts, and learn from the wealth of knowledge and experience that many in our community are happy to share. Programs and events to support One Book will be announced throughout March and April.

Creative Nonfiction

Creative Nonfiction combines the research involved in traditional nonfiction works with the style and techniques used in fiction writing. Memoirs, autobiographies and journalism are examples of this growing genre. The idea behind this type of writing is that it makes what is true more interesting. Truman Capote's In Cold Blood is an example of how using fiction writing methods can add something extra to the characters and dialogue of a true story. This combination of true events and the imagination of the author can create problems however. James Frey's A Million Little Pieces was proven to have had many exagerations and fabrications, leaving many to speculate the credibilty of this increasingly popular genre.

Ask your librarian to find out more about reading and writing creative nonfiction!

Example of Creative Nonfiction:

The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden

Learn more at www.creativenonfiction.org