The Big Read is a nationwide celebration of reading, and locally the initiative is spearheaded by CCAC. It is a “month-long series of free outreach events designed to promote literacy, reading and open dialogue within our community.” The Library can definitely get behind this mission, and as such we have a schedule chock-full of events to celebrate this year’s book, The Things They Carried.
This is a beautifully rendered story about the Vietnam War, and the library is working within this theme to present talks, discussions, and film screenings on themes related to veterans. Below is a well-rounded list of options! Many of the book discussions will have free copies of the book to give away, courtesy of CCAC.
3/6/2014. 6-8 pm Dr. Todd DePastino
Todd is co-founder and director of the Veterans Breakfast Club, a nonprofit organization dedicated to gathering veterans of all eras and generations together to share their stories of service. Todd will tell extraordinary WWII stories of veterans living in the region and his quest to preserve and celebrate them.
3/11/2014, 6-7 pm Book Discussion
Tuesday Evening Books Presents: a book discussion of The Things They Carried
3/25/2014, 6-8 pm Vietnam War Documentary
3/18/2014, 12:15 pm Return With Honor documentary
American Experience examines the lives of American pilots who became prisoners of war in Vietnam and describes their struggles in captivity. This documentary includes rare footage of prison camps and captured prisoners. Narrated by Tom Hanks. Presented by PBS.
3/18/2014 1 pm Tuskegee Airmen: A Neighborhood Legacy.
Join a discussion and film on historic Tuskegee Airmen, focusing especially on those men and women from the Hill District community.
3/11/2014, 7 pm Buzz: Pairings: The Things They Carried Book Discussion
On 3/11, we’ll discuss The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien at the Lawrenceville Library. On 3/25/14, we’ll discuss Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers at a neighborhood location. Check http://clpbookbuzz.wordpress.com for more information.
3/29/14, 2-5 pm Classic Film
Watch and discuss a classic film about a young man who volunteers to fight but quickly discovers that the Viet Cong are not his greatest enemies. This academy award winning film is rated R and includes extreme violence and language. Participation in this program is limited to individuals aged 18 and up.
3/13/2013 6:30-7:45 pm The Things They Carried Book Discussion
Bound Together is a collaborative book discussion. In March, we’ll discuss The Things They Carried at the Carnegie Museum of Art, with some views of the Carnegie International to boot.
4/17/2014 1 & 6 pm Books in the Afternoon
Books in the Afternoon will feature discussions of The Things They Carried.
3/13/2014 7:00 pm The Big Read in Pittsburgh: The Things They Carried.
Mt. Washington will host a lively book discussion.
3/11/2014 11:30 am Book Discussion of The Things They Carried
Copies will be available at the circulation desk. Refreshments will be served.
Happy Big Reading!
Holly
Eleventh Stack 
You’ve chosen a great book to discuss. Probably the best book yet written about the Vietnam War. Wish I lived closer so that I could attend some of these events–they sound really cool.
Reblogged this on HEROES NATION BLOG by Joseph Pellerito Jr..
I never wished I lived in Pittsburgh until I started following your blog. Sounds like you’ve got some great books and discussions going on about the Vietnam War. But you forgot something – the thousands of women who served there.
Some excellent books you might consider adding to your collection include:
– “A Piece of My Heart: The Stories of 26 American Women who Served in
Vietnam” by Keith Walker;
– “Women at War: The Story of 50 Military Nurses who Served in Vietnam” by Elizabeth Norman (and published by University of Pennsylvania Press!)
– “War Torn: Stories of War from the Women Reporters who Covered Vietnam” – okay, not primarily about women who served but written by women journalists and quite fascinating:
– And the YA novel “The Road Home” by Ellen Emerson White.
If I sound a little obsessed about this topic it’s because I have a novel coming out this fall called “Her Own Vietnam.”
What a great list! Thank you so much, Lynn, and congratulations on your upcoming novel!
Leigh Anne
Pingback: Thoughts on The Things They Carried | Eleventh Stack