The Deschutes Public Library and Deschutes Public Library Foundation present the 9^th Annual “A Novel Idea…Read Together” program. This community read program is the largest in the state of Oregon with more than 5,000 residents reading, discussing, and attending free cultural events at the Library. All events, including the author presentations, are free and open to everyone.

“A Novel Idea” kicks off Saturday, April 14, 2012 with three weeks of free cultural programs including, book discussions, documentary films, jazz music, Walker Evans photography, comparative literature discussions, and cocktail tastings,” said Community Relations Manager Chantal Strobel.  “All of these free programs are designed to enhance the readers experience and enrich discussion.”

The three week “A Novel Idea” program culminates with author Amor Towles presenting on Friday, May 4 at the Tower Theatre and Saturday, May 5 at the Sisters High School.  These author presentations are free but tickets are required for the Tower Theatre event (the Sisters High School presentation is not ticketed). Tickets for the Tower presentation are available online at www.towertheater.org , by phone at (541) 317-0700, or from the Tower Theater box office during regular business hours beginning Saturday, April 14 at 10:00 a.m.

“The Library also offers free book club kits to all book clubs throughout Deschutes County,” said Community Relations Manager Chantal Strobel. “The kits are designed to create a deeper discussion of the book with some fun treats thrown in.”

Book club kits must be reserved ahead of time by calling (541) 312-1032 or email lizg@deschuteslibrary.org

About the Book: The Rules of Civility:

Rules of Civility, Amor Towles’ first novel, is being translated into sixteen languages. The book was on the bestseller lists of the New York Times,Boston Globe, and Los Angeles Times.  It was also identified as one of the top ten works of fiction in 2011 by the Wall Street Journal.

Set during the hazy, enchanting, and martini-filled world of New York City circa 1938, Rules of Civility follows three friends, Katey, Eve, and Tinker, from their chance meeting at a jazz club on New Year's Eve through a year of enlightening and tragic adventures. Tinker orbits in the world of the wealthy; Katey and Eve stretch their few dollars out each evening on the town. While all three are complex characters, Katey is the story's shining star. She is a fully realized heroine, unique in her strong sense of self amidst her life's continual fluctuations. Towles' writing also paints an inviting picture of New York City, without forgetting its sharp edges. Elegant and captivating, Rules of Civility turns a Jamesian eye on how spur of the moment decisions define life for decades to come. A love letter to a great American city at the end of the Depression, readers fall quickly under its spell of crisp writing, sparkling atmosphere, and breathtaking revelations, as Towles evokes the ghosts of Fitzgerald, Capote, and McCarthy.

About the Author: Amor Towles

Born in 1964, Amor Towles was raised in a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from Yale College and received an M.A. in English from Stanford University. He is a principal at an investment firm in Manhattan, where he lives with his wife and two children. He is on the boards of the Library of America and the Yale Art Gallery. His novel, Rules of Civility, was published by Viking/Penguin in July 2011 and reached the bestseller lists of The New York Times, the Boston Globe and Los Angeles Times. The book was rated by The Wall Street Journal as one of the ten best works of fiction in 2011. The book is being translated into 15 languages.

“A Novel Idea” Funding

“A Novel Idea” is made possible by the Deschutes Public Library Foundation who receives grants, sponsorships, and donations. These generous contributions allow A Novel Idea to remain free of charge for all Deschutes County residents. This program was made possible in part by a grant from the Oregon Humanities (OH), a statewide nonprofit organization and an independent affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, which funds OH’s grant program.

For a full list of A Novel Idea funders and for more information, please visit the Novel Idea website at: http://www.deschuteslibrary.org/events/novelidea/