Two Island events and two novels will join forces this fall: The Big Read in September and an All Island Read in October.
The Orcas Island Writers Festival, which takes place from September 17 to 20, will be teaming up with The Big Read for the month of September. The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest. In the Pacific Northwest, The Big Read is supported, in part, from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. The Big Read is aimed to inspire a community to read, discuss, and learn more about a work of literature. From the list of 30 books by various authors selected by The Big Read, Orcas Island will focus on Zora Neale Hurston’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God.”
In addition, Orcas Center and Darvill’s Bookstore will promote an All Island Read of Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations.” In October, Orcas Center will present a new, original adaptation of the Dickens’ classic, directed by Jane Jones of Book-It Repertory Theater. This production will feature local actors.
Local book groups and individuals are encouraged to read “Their Eyes Were Watching God” and “Great Expectations.” Copies of both books are available at Darvill’s Bookstore. Hurston’s novel will be available at cost, and Darvill’s will donate 25 percent of every sale of Dickens’ novel to the Orcas Center production. “Their Eyes Were Watching God” will also be available for sale at the Library Fair. Free study guides for Hurston’s novel are available at both Darvill’s and the Library.
Events and community discussions on both these novels are in the works and more information will be announced soon. More information on The Big Read can be found at http://neabigread.com. More information on the Orcas Writers Festival can be found at www.orcasislandwritersfestival.com or by contacting Barbara Lewis at festivalgurus@orcasislandwritersfestival.com or by calling 317-4383.
Auditions for “Great Expectations” will be held on August 30 to 31. For more information, contact Sparks at 376-2281 ext. 2 or sparks@orcascenter.org
