Lincoln City Libraries Announces 2017 One Book–One Lincoln Title

Tuesday, 05 September 2017 11:55

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Lincoln City Libraries (LCL) today announced A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles has been selected for the 2017 One Book–One Lincoln Community Reading. The novel is available from LCL in print, large type, compact disc, downloadable audio and eBook formats.

The novel tells the story of Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov, a Russian aristocrat sentenced to house arrest in Moscow’s luxurious Metropol hotel for his association with a poem with revolutionary overtones.

Born and raised in the Boston area, Towles graduated from Yale College and received a master’s in English from Stanford University. A Gentleman in Moscow is his second novel. It was on the New York Times bestseller list for over 20 weeks and was named one of the best books of 2016 by the Chicago Tribune, the Washington Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the San Francisco Chronicle and National Public Radio.

The runners up were Moonglow by Michael Chabon and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. The book selection process began in February when an 18-member team of community readers narrowed a list of 96 nominated titles down to three finalists. To enhance readers’ enjoyment of the One Book–One Lincoln finalists, as well as the winning title, LCL will host several events this fall:

• Sunday, September 10, 2 p.m., Gere Branch Library, 2400 S 56th St.
  “The Holocaust’s Legacy” – Dr. Steve Wees discusses his experience growing up as the son of a Holocaust survivor.
• Sunday, September 17, 3 p.m., Bennett Martin Public Library, 136 S 14th St.
  “Harlem Renaissance” – Lincoln vocalist Annette Murrell (Dr. Diva) interprets jazz legends Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith.
• Thursday, September 21, 6:30 p.m., Walt Branch Library, 6701 S 14th St.
  “Fine Dining Á La Metropol” – Dr. Ajai Ammachathram discusses fine dining, the art of pairing wine and food and the role of a maître d’ in ensuring superb service.
• Sunday, November 5, 2 p.m., Gere Branch Library
  “Life Outside the Metropol: The Soviet Union in the Early 20th Century” – Russian scholar Dr. Marcelline Hutton explains the political, economic and cultural forces impacting Russian life in the Lenin and Stalin eras.

LCL has sponsored the annual program since 2002 to encourage reading and dialogue by creating a community-wide reading and discussion experience. More information about One Book–One Lincoln, including previous winners, is available here.