Williamsburg Regional Library and William & Mary present One Book, One Community, a new initiative that brings readers in Williamsburg, James City County, York County and William & Mary together for a shared reading experience. The inaugural selection for this series is Tommy Orange's There There, a breakout bestseller and finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize. It explores themes of native people living in spaces and the challenges they face from depression to unemployment to struggles with identity.
William & Mary Libraries will host book discussions on There There on Monday, Jan. 13 and Thursday, Jan. 16 from 2-3 p.m. Each discussion, led by Yitazba Largo-Anderson and Alex Flores, will be guided by a theme found in the novel. Register online.
Williamsburg Regional Library be hosting a variety of programs that complement the novel: (all programs open to the public)
- Alcatraz is Not an Island Documentary Screening: Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. and Jan. 9 at 7 p.m., Williamsburg Library
- Novel Ideas: There There Book Group Discussion: Jan. 13, 2 p.m., James City County Library
- A History of the American Indian Movement: Jan. 15, 7 p.m., Williamsburg Library
- Turning Pages: There There Book Group Discussion: Jan. 21, 7 p.m., Williamsburg Library
- The Lives of Urban Indians: Jan. 23, 7 p.m., Williamsburg Library
- Open Book Discussion: There There: Jan. 27, 7 p.m., Stryker Center
- William & Mary American Indian Students Speak: Jan. 29, 7 p.m., Williamsburg Library
The program will culminate in a visit from Tommy Orange Jan. 23-24. On Thursday, Jan. 23 he will visit William & Mary to host class discussions and meet with librarians and faculty. On Friday, Jan. 24, he will hold a public talk at 7 p.m. at the Williamsburg Regional Library Theater.