ONE AUTHOR, ONE KIRKWOOD BRINGS A COMMUNITY TOGETHER WITH ONE BOOK
“Books fall open, you fall in.”
One Author, One Kirkwood
For 12 years, the Kirkwood Public Library has selected a single book and asked members of the community to open it, fall in and explore. One Author, One Kirkwood is an annual community-wide reading event aimed at connecting people to literature through reading and discussion. The program committee chooses an author and hosts discussions around their work that address crucial social topics impacting our community and the larger world.
The 2023 Selection
“Night of the Living Rez,” written by Morgan Talty, is the program’s 2023 selection. Talty is a citizen of the Penobscot Indian Nation where he grew up. Named one of Narrative’s “30 Below 30,” Talty’s work has appeared in “The Georgia Review,” “Shenandoah,” “TriQuarterly,” “Narrative Magazine,” “LitHub,” and elsewhere.
His novel, set in a Native American community in Maine, is a collection of twelve short stories about what it means to be Penobscot in the twenty-first century, as well as what it means to live, to survive, and to persevere after tragedy.
Throughout the twelve tales, we learn of a community struggling with a painful past and an uncertain future. A boy unearths a jar that holds an old curse, which sets into motion his family’s unraveling; a man, while trying to swindle some pot from a dealer, discovers a friend passed out in the woods, his hair frozen into the snow; a grandmother suffering from Alzheimer’s projects the past onto her grandson; and two friends, inspired by “Antiques Roadshow,” attempt to rob the tribal museum for valuable root clubs.
“All of the stories are woven together. It’s sad yet has humor.”
As part of the One Author series, numerous copies of “Night of the Living Rez” are available to check out from Kirkwood Public Library or can be purchased from the Novel Neighbor in Webster Groves, one of the event partners. Library book clubs have been reading and discussing the book for months.
Several programs with topics related to the book have been held, including a cooking demonstration, “Flavors of the Land: Unveiling the Roots of Native Foods,” by Eric Pinto, MSW, Assistant Director of the Kathryn M. Buder Center at Washington University in St. Louis. A taped version of that program can be viewed on KPL’s YouTube channel.
Talty will discuss his book and answer questions as part of the series’ final event at 7pm on Oct. 12, at Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, 210 E. Monroe Ave. Registration is free, but tickets are required to attend. Following the program, Talty plans to autograph copies of the book.
Prior to the discussion, a short film written and starring Talty will be shown. The film can also be viewed on the author’s website.
Funding for One Author, One Kirkwood is provided by the Edward Chase Garvey Memorial Foundation.
Event partners include:
The Novel Neighbor
Kirkwood Performing Arts Center
The Buder Center
St. Louis Community College
Kirkwood Human Rights Commission
CFUH Book Group
Glendale-Kirkwood Kiwanis
West County Community Action Network
Rotary Club of Kirkwood
City of Kirkwood
In some areas, community-wide reads—called One Read or One Book—have exploded in popularity in recent years. Usually organized by libraries, they bring community members together to read and discuss the same literary work. Discussions usually take place in small groups and sometimes authors participate.
The Kirkwood Public Library began its One Read program in 2012 to provide encouragement following the tragic shooting deaths of six people at Kirkwood City Hall in 2008.
“We wanted to bring people together and give them something cheerful to talk about. Something to think about that wasn’t heartbreaking.”
One Author, One Kirkwood takes place in the spring, but due to unforeseen illness, this year’s series was moved to this fall. Planning for 2024 has already begun, said Lambert, so stay tuned!
All images are courtesy of Kirkwood Public Library and the author.