North suburban libraries encourage readers to pick up same book

Three North suburban public library districts - Cook Memorial, Indian Trails and Vernon Area - are partnering to bring neighboring communities together through literature with "One Book, One Community," a national program that encourages friends and neighbors to read the same book at the same time.

Through February, these library districts are encouraging patrons to read "Love and Other Consolation Prizes" by Jamie Ford. The libraries are offering a variety of related programs and performances to encourage conversations around the themes of the book.

"This partnership with other nearby library districts benefits everyone," said Cynthia Fuerst, director of Vernon Area Public Library District. "Together, these libraries serve more than 165,000 people. We are hoping this shared experience will help us come to better understand ourselves and others."

"Love and Other Consolation Prizes" is a historical romance set primarily in Seattle, moving between two time periods - that of the 1909 Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition and the 1962 Century 21 Exposition.

It is based on the true story of an orphaned boy whose life is altered when he attends the 1909 World's Fair in Seattle. The novel explores topics including Asian-American immigration at the turn of the century, orphans, indentured servitude, human trafficking, and women's suffrage.

The libraries will jointly host an author visit and book signing with Jamie Ford on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Vernon Hills High School. Each library will also offer book discussions and other programs and performances related to the book.

All are free to attend and residency is not required. Find a schedule of and sign up for all the events at http://1book.org.

Jamie Ford broke onto the literary scene in 2009, with "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet," a New York Times best-selling novel and recipient of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. He is ethnically half Chinese; his great-grandfather immigrated from Kaiping, China, to San Francisco in 1865. Ford was born in California, but grew up in Seattle. He now lives in Montana with his wife and children.

Cook Memorial Public Library District operates two full-service locations that serve 60,000 residents in the communities of Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Green Oaks and Mundelein.

Indian Trails Public Library District operates two locations that serve 67,000 residents in Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Prospect Heights and Arlington Heights.

Vernon Area Public Library in Lincolnshire directly serves 43,000 residents and businesses in and around Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove, Long Grove and Vernon Hills.

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