by Cheryl Homan-Wendell, Program & Outreach Librarian

For 10 years strong, friends and neighbors have made it a tradition to read and discuss a shared annual book, always making new friends in the process. Neither flood nor global pandemic has halted this spirit of community unity.

The annual literary celebration called One Book One Valley has taken us on some amazing journeys. If you remember all 10 years—wonderful! If you’re joining us for the first time—equally wonderful! We invite you to vote now to select the next literary journey happening this January.

The finalists were just unveiled last week. Click here to find brief summaries of each, so that you can help choose the winner! 

Here are the “Four Finalists” listed alphabetically by author:

What a Fish Knows by Jonathan Balcombe

The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko

The River by Peter Heller

The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

During these past 10 years, we’ve taken literary walks in the woods, re-lived the rollicking Wild West, and imagined the uncertainty of crossing the border as a migrant. Last January, we explored Depression-era Appalachia, meeting a courageous Packhorse Librarian named Cussy Mary Carter.

Where will we go next? After much review and careful thought, our One Book One Valley committee made up of community members like you, narrowed the selection down to the four titles above, each with great discussion and program potential. Now through August 12, we’re seeking your vote to choose the 2022 10th Anniversary book.

Voting is as easy as clicking here and ranking your preferences. Voting is one-time per person.

We love book clubs! One Book One Valley is truly a giant valley-wide book club—where everyone gets a book and everyone is invited to the discussion. Harvard Business Review summarized it well, “Book clubs …have a way of building and deepening relationships through shared learning.” 

We’ll reveal the winning title in early November, Then One Book takes place in January.  More details will follow! Copies of the book will then be available for reading and sharing, thanks to generous support from the Library Friends & Foundation. Thanks also goes to our “One Book” committee, which over the past decade has been composed of Library staff, Friends & Foundation board members, and book-loving community volunteers.

Now a decade strong, we invite you to take part in this opportunity to celebrate literacy, community, storytelling, and civic dialogue through the shared reading of a single title.