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You might see a copy of Mark Zusak's "The Book Thief" lying around, as you travel through your day. You might see it at Starbucks, on a bench or in the park. Wherever you find it, the Greenwich Reads Together program wants you to become a "thief" and pass it around town.
On Monday, the Greenwich Library named this New York Times best seller as the inaugural book in its new community-reading program. Set during Nazi Germany, the story follows Liesel Memniger, a foster child who steals books and shares them with her neighbors during bomb raids, as well as with a Jewish man hiding in her basement.
Greenwich Reads Together plans to get residents, youth groups and members of book clubs and other organizations talking about a single book and its themes. Community agencies will offer lectures and discussion groups. Putting everyone on the same page will foster communication and spark ideas," Library Director, Carol Mahoney said.
The Verizon Foundation awarded the program a $5,000 grant, to help get it off the ground. "Verizon believes in Greenwich Reads Together's mission to bring people together through reading," said Catherine Gasteyer, Verizon's director of Government and External Affairs for the state. "This grant will help share this great book and generate ideas and discussion throughout Greenwich."
First Selectman Peter Tesei said, "Clearly this is an opportunity for the town, through its library, to partner in something that will provide many hours of enrichment to members of our community and showcase so many of our wonderful organizations."
Copies of the book can be borrowed at the Greenwich Library and Byram and Cos Cob branches. Its also available at bookstores. For more on The Book Thief and the local partners in Greenwich Reads Together, see http://www.greenwichlibrary.org/GreenwichReadsTogether.aspx
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