Animal, Vegetable, Miracle : 2010 One Book/One Community read
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, written by award-winning author Barbara Kingsolver, has been selected for One Book/One Community , the Lewiston and Auburn public libraries’ bi-annual community-wide reading program. Part memoir, part journalistic investigation, the book is the first-hand recounting of how Kingsolver’s family was changed by one year of deliberately eating food produced solely on or around their family homestead in rural Virginia. It takes an earnest and entertaining look at both this personal struggle to limit one’s diet to locally grown foods and at the system of food distribution that exists in the U.S. and around the world. In relating her story, Kingsolver imparts a wealth of information on food and nutrition in America.
The winner of multiple literary honors and one of Time Magazine’s “Top 10 Nonfiction Books of 2007″, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle has been described as “making a passionate case for putting the kitchen back at the center of family life and diversified farms at the center of the American diet.” According to Lewiston Public Library director Rick Speer, this nonfiction work is a departure for Kingsolver, a writer primarily known for best-selling novels that feature themes revolving around family, community, and cultural differences.
“This title is a lively and fascinating read which everyone agrees is a great fit for our community this year,” said Speer, “what with so many local organizations currently working on issues surrounding gardening, nutrition, and food security.” As a result of this burgeoning interest, the number of collaborators for this year’s One Book/One Community program has expanded to include groups such as Healthy Androscoggin and Lots to Gardens as well as all of the area colleges.
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is available for loan at the Lewiston and Auburn public libraries and may be reserved by calling either library. Copies are available for purchase at a 20% discount at Mr. Paperback and the Bates College Bookstore in Lewiston, and Percy’s Burrow and WaldenBooks in Auburn.
Over a dozen activities related to this year’s One Book/One Community program will take place locally through March and April, including book discussions, workshops in organic gardening and cooking, a talk by MOFGA director Russell Libby, and a sustainable foods conference.
This year’s One Book/One Community initiative is collaboration between the Lewiston and Auburn public libraries and several other local partners, including Lewiston Adult Education, Bates College, CMCC, USM/LAC, the Downtown Education Collaborative, Healthy Androscoggin, St. Mary’s Nutrition Center, Encompass Marketing, Phoenix Farm and the participating bookstores.
Click any One Book/One Community link in this article for a full listing of events. For more information call the Lewiston Public Library at 513-3135.
Posted: Friday, February 19th, 2010 in none
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