The Big Read Introduces Public to 'The Paris Wife'

Join your neighbors and transport yourself to Paris of the 1920s.

The experience is being sponsored by The Big Read, a cooperative effort by 10 area libraries to encourage their patrons to read the same book to promote reading, spark discussion and build community. The participating libraries are Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Indian Prairie, La Grange, La Grange Park, Lisle, Thomas Ford in Western Springs, Westmont and Woodridge.

The book for the eighth annual event is The Paris Wife by Paula McLain.

In The Paris Wife, McLain uses the voice of Hadley Richardson, the first of Ernest Hemingway’s four wives, to capture a remarkable time period and a love affair fueled by ambition and betrayal. As the story unfolds, the reader watches as Hadley struggles to understand her roles—wife, lover, muse, friend, and mother—in the turbulent world of Paris in the 1920s.

The public is invited to read the book and particapate in any of a number of events being planned. And, the author will visit the area in May.

How to Obtain a Copy: At the Library

Each of the participating libraries have copies The Paris Wife that can be checked out. See links above.

How to Obtain a Copy: At the Bookstore

Anderson’s Bookshops, 5112 Main St., Downers Grove, and 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville, offer a 10 percent discount.

Anderson’s Book Club members and shoppers at Barbara’s Bookstore, 810 Village Center Drive, Burr Ridge, get a 20 percent discount.

Customer of Frugal Muse, 7511 Lemont St., Darien, receive a 30 percent discount.

Book Discussions

In addition to providing copies of The Paris Wife, participating libraries are offering book discussions and related programming beginning next month. Patrons may attend discussions at any library. Register by calling the host library. The information follows.

• Wednesday, March 7—7 p.m., Lisle Library District, 777 Front St., Lisle, 630-971-1675.
• Tuesday, March 13—7 p.m., Hinsdale Public Library, 20 E. Maple St., Hinsdale, 630-986-1976.
• Wednesday, March 14—12 p.m., (brown bag lunch) Westmont Public Library (Co-host: Clarendon Hills Public Library), 428 N. Cass Ave., Westmont, 630-969-5625.
• Wednesday, March 14—7:30 p.m., Indian Prairie Public Library, 401 Plainfield Rd., Darien, 630-887-8760.
• Tuesday, March 27—7 p.m., Woodridge Public Library, 3 Plaza Dr., Woodridge, 630-964-7899.
• Wednesday, April 4—7:30 p.m., Thomas Ford Memorial Library, 800 Chestnut St., Western Springs, 708-246-0520.
• Thursday, April 5—7:30 p.m., Downers Grove Public Library, 1050 Curtiss St., Downers Grove, 630-960-1200.
• Wednesday, April 11—7 p.m., La Grange Public Library, 10 W. Cossitt Ave., La Grange, 708-352-0576.
• Tuesday, April 17—2 p.m., La Grange Park Public Library, 555 N. La Grange Rd., La Grange Park, 708-352-0100.

Other Discussions on Other topics

• Thursday, March 15—7 p.m., Masquerade by Walter Satterthwait Shanahan’s Food & Spirits, 1999 75th St., Woodridge. Register by calling Indian Prairie Public Library, 630-887-8760.
• Thursday, April 5—7 p.m., The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, Woodridge Public Library, 3 Plaza Dr., Woodridge, 630-964-7899.
• Wednesday, April 25 7:30 p.m., A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway, Downers Grove Public Library, 1050 Curtiss St., Downers Grove, 630-960-1200.

Author to Speak

Author Paula McLain will talk about The Paris Wife at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 3 at Ashton Place, 341 75th St., Willowbrook. She will give her personal reflections as she discusses her motivation for writing the book, her research, and her ability to immerse herself in this world she created. Register online at thebigread.org or by calling your home library.

Book Club in a Bag

Read and discuss this year’s book with your family and friends. Each of the bags contains copies of The Paris Wife, background information, and a list of discussion questions. Downers Grove and Hinsdale libraries have kits available. Visit these libraries to reserve a Book Club in a Bag.

The Big Read online

Receive news about The Big Read at twitter.com/bigread2012, “like” the event on Facebook, or find information at thebigread.org.