| 
‘Orange County Reads
One Book’ Kicks Off Feb. 5
by Gail Matsunaga
from Dateline (January 30, 2003)
Orange County residents will be challenged
to form the largest book club of its kind with the Feb. 5 launch
of “Orange County Reads One Book,” a countywide effort
to strengthen literacy, community building, and multigenerational
and multicultural understanding. Cal State Fullerton is
hosting the kickoff festivities, which will include the introduction
and celebration of the New York Times best seller Falling
Leaves – and its companion children’s book Chinese
Cinderella – by Huntington Beach author Adeline Yen Mah.
Activities will begin with a press conference,
followed by a 3 p.m. program featuring Yen Mah. Program co-chairs
William M. Habermehl, Orange County Department of Education superintendent,
and Steven N. Barth, Los Angeles Times vice president of
classified advertising/general manager, Los Angeles Times
Interactive, will invite county residents to read Falling Leaves
and Chinese Cinderella over the next six weeks, then participate
in discussions, programs, art events, seminars and activities that
will include opportunities to meet the author.
Students from middle and high schools also will
be on hand to share their personal thoughts and experiences about
Chinese Cinderella. After the program, Yen Mah will be
available to sign her books, which the Titan Bookstore has on display
and for sale, in addition to Cinderella stories from other countries,
including Persia, Mexico, Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia, Philippines
and Laos.
In the weeks ahead, the campus community will
have opportunities to further explore the books and learn more about
Yen Mah in a Pollak Library exhibit that will feature a BBC program
on the author’s return to China; pages from her original manuscripts;
letters and pictures from readers; family photos; and items relating
to various aspects of Yen Mah’s life.
Additionally, several classes will include Falling
Leaves in this semester’s curriculum.
The university also is participating in “One
Book, One City” a project with the city of Santa Ana to
encourage residents to read John Steinbeck’s The Pearl.
Coordinated primarily through Grand Central Art Center, activities
and programs appealing to all ages have been ongoing and will continue
through April.
| Media Contacts: |
Karon Cornell, Community Relations, 657-278-7119
or kcornell@fullerton.edu
Mary Barton, Orange County Reads One Book program director,
(562) 433-0074 or mebarton@aol.com
Gail Matsunaga, Public Affairs, 657-278-4851 or gmatsunaga@fullerton.edu |
« back to Community
|
Download image
View News by Date
