Vote on the Third Annual One Book, One Denver

One Book, One Denver, a citywide book club, started seven years ago with the goal of cultivating a culture of reading in Denver, and to build community and stimulate people to read, is back. And for the third year, One Book, One Denver invites readers to vote for the 2011 book selection.

Readers are encouraged to visit www.denverartsinteractive.com to cast their vote. Voting runs June 1 through June 15. Once voting ends and the winning book is determined, Arts & Venues Denver will roll-out the 2011 One Book, One Denver program for a September 1 launch. The people of Denver, young and old, are encouraged to join others in the shared experience of simultaneously reading the same book and participating in related events.

“We are thrilled to be a partner with One Book, One Denver for another year,” said Diane Lapierre, Denver Public Library. “Not only does this event engage people with reading, but also creates a wonderful sense of community as thousands of book enthusiasts read and discuss the same book, at the same time.”

Last year’s selection, “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett was a huge success with over 3,700 copies circulated. Watch for book-related events throughout the book club period and check out http://www.denvergov.org/tabid/436793/Default.aspx for book club discussions and tools.

This year's selections are:

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein: Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul, he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford: Henry Lee is a Chinese-American in 1986 Seattle who has just lost his wife to cancer. Henry hears that the belongings of Japanese immigrants interned during WWII have been found in the basement of the Panama Hotel, which spurs stories and memories of losses of old age and the bewilderment of youth.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot: Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells—taken without her knowledge—became one of the most important tools in medicine.

For more information on Arts & Venues Denver, please visit www.artsandvenuesdenver.com and cast your vote at http://www.denverartsinteractive.com/contests/2011-one-book-one-denver-book-selection.

Hickenlooper to unveil One Book, One Denver selection today

Mayor John Hickenlooper and the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs will unveil the 2010 One Book, One Denver selection, as determined by public vote, today, Wednesday, September 1 at 11 a.m.

The unveiling will take place downtown at the Denver Public Library’s main branch in front of the Children’s Pavilion. The Mayor’s remarks will include details on a new scavenger hunt, partnerships and associated programming.

Voting for One Book, One Denver ends today

Voting for the next One Book, One Denver selection ends TODAY! Make sure to cast your vote by 5 p.m.

Vote on the next Denver book at www.DenverArtsInteractive.org and be a part of Mayor Hickenlooper's citywide book club!

One Book, One Denver 2010 - Cast Your Vote!

Mayor John Hickenlooper and the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs continue the new tradition of asking the public to pick the annual One Book, One Denver selection. Citizens will have the opportunity to vote on their choice of three books. Books include contemporary works, with diverse themes and authors. The book choices are as follows:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Fine Just the Way It Is by Annie Proulx

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

Voting will end June 15. Find out more about each book and cast your vote at www.DenverArtsInteractive.org.

I say, vote for Annie - she wrote Brokeback Mountain!

One Book, One Denver: To Kill A Mockingbird

* click to embiggen and read all about all of the interesting One Book, One Denver events that are going on and then come help me bust up this chiffarobe. I'll give you a nickel.

To Kill A Mockingbird chosen as 2009's One Book, One Denver

Mayor John Hickenlooper has announced the result of the citizen vote on the 2009 One Book, One Denver selection. To Kill A Mockingbird is the winner, having received the largest percentage of votes from a pool of almost 2,000 voters who participated in the One Book, One Vote campaign that took place June 1 through June 15. The campaign allowed citizens to vote on their choice of 27 books via an online voting site.

As part of the book selection announcement, the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs (DOCA) revealed it has been chosen to receive a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to host The Big Read in Denver. DOCA is one of 269 nonprofits—including arts, culture, and science organizations, libraries and municipalities—to receive a grant to host a Big Read in 2009. The Big Read gives communities the opportunity to come together to read, discuss and celebrate one of numerous selections from U.S. and world literature.


DOCA has conducted a community reading project, One Book, One Denver, each of the past five years. This year, DOCA will combine One Book, One Denver with the NEA’s Big Read. The combined program will officially launch September 1 and run through October. During that time, copies of To Kill a Mockingbird will be available for check-out at all Denver Public Library branches and sold in local bookstores. The program will feature activities such as read-a-thons, book discussions, lectures, movie screenings and performing arts events.

The amount of DOCA’s Big Read grant is $20,000, which will serve to promote and carry out the program. As a grantee, DOCA will also receive free, high-quality educational materials for distribution to support the community in enjoying To Kill a Mockingbird, including Reader’s, Teacher’s and Audio Guides.

“The public deserves kudos for picking this timeless American classic,” Hickenlooper said. “To Kill a Mockingbird speaks to social issues still relevant in 2009, while showing us that human goodness perseveres even in hard times.”

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Support for The Big Read is provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Transportation for The Big Read is provided by Ford.

“The Big Read highlights not only literature, but also what can be accomplished in partnership,” said NEA Acting Chairman Patrice Walker Powell. “I’m grateful to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Arts Midwest and the many, many nonprofits, local governments and media outlets around the country that have partnered with the NEA to present hundreds of Big Read projects nationwide. We welcome our new community partners to The Big Read family and look forward to continuing this transformative dialogue between neighbors and across borders.”

For more information about The Big Read please visit www.neabigread.org.




Vote for One Book, One Denver

Visit www.OneBookOneVote.org to cast your vote for the 2009 One Book, One Denver selection.

I'm a lifelong sci-fi/fantasy nut so you know my vote had to be for 'A Wizard of Earthsea' by Ursula K. Le Guin.