NEA Big Read events planned throughout October around Lake County
- Jan Cook
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Big Read comes to Lake County in October with events centered around Luis Alberto Urrea’s book “Into the Beautiful North.”
All events are free; some require registration. Free copies of the Big Read selection will be available at Big Read events while supplies last.
In Lakeport events will include book discussions, a film showing and a rural skills fair.
The Big Read kick-off event, the Rural Skills Fair takes place at the Historic Courthouse Museum, 225 N. Main St. on Saturday, Oct. 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. during Oktoberfest.
Come watch “The Magnificent Seven,” the classic 1960 movie that inspires Nayeli in Into the Beautiful North to create her own Magnificent Seven. Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson and others star in the story of a town that fights back against marauding bandits. A discussion of the book will accompany the film.
Local author Richard Schmidt will address “Into the Beautiful North from a writer’s perspective during a discussion on Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 5:30 p.m. at Lakeport Library.
The Big Read’s keynote speaker, local professor Jabez “Bill” Churchill will present his address “From South to North and Back Again” at the Lake Center of Mendocino College, 2565 Parallel Drive in Lakeport. This event is in partnership with the Lake County Friends of Mendocino College.
The Main Street Gallery in Lakeport will be the scene of a poets and authors discussion on Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Clearlake will see several Big Read events. The Redbud Library book club will discuss the book at its meeting Thursday, Oct. 11, from 2 to 3 p.m. at the library 14785 Burns Valley Road.
A cultural celebration in partnership with La Voz de la Esperanza Centro Latino is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 16, 3 to 5 p.m., at Redbud Library, 14785 Burns Valley Road in Clearlake.
Also on Oct. 16 at noon a Mexican-themed lunch will be sold on the Woodland Community College Clearlake Campus, 15880 Dam Road Extension in Clearlake, with a book discussion following the lunch.
Middletown celebrates the Big Read action with two events.
On Sunday, Oct. 7, from 1 to 5 p.m. come explore the characters of “Into the Beautiful North” through art at the Middletown Art Center, 21456 Highway 175. Make a pop-up village and populate it with characters from the book. Learn more and register at www.middletownartcenter.org.
On Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 3:30 p.m., the Middletown Library book club will discuss the book at its meeting in the library at 21256 Washington St.
The Big Read concludes with an on-air discussion between county librarian Christopher Veach and radio host Susan Krones on KPFZ 88.1 on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 4 to 5 p.m.
The Lake County Library is on the internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary.
Jan Cook is a library technician for the Lake County Library.