By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

page-turners

Three books vying for title of Red Deer Reads 2021 champion

Jul 18, 2021 | 10:00 AM

The final round of Red Deer Reads 2021 is going on now.

A different format was chosen for this year’s program. It involves three finalist titles, each with a local champion promoting to the public why that book is most worthy of reading.

“All three finalists offer the Red Deer community an insight into different sets of tragic circumstances that the books’ protagonists overcome in their own inspiring way,” explains Tatiana Tilly, Program and Community Engagement Manager, Red Deer Public Library.

“While only Why Birds Sing by Nina Berkhout is a fiction title that poetically talks about life, love and death in a way that anyone can relate to, the two other non-fiction titles – The Skin We’re In by Desmond Cole and By Chance Alone: A Remarkable True Story of Courage and Survival at Auschwitz by Max Eisen, strike very close to two issues we’ve all experienced in Red Deer firsthand this year: systematic racism and a significant increase in reported hate crimes.”

Why Birds Sing is being championed by Suzanne Hermary, Red Deer Arts Council coordinator, The Skin We’re In is championed by Dieulita Datus, Ubuntu-Mobilizing Central Alberta co-founder, and Mayor Tara Veer is champion for By Chance Alone.

changing landscape

Latest opioid data shows evolving trends in Red Deer

5m ago

oh&s on site to investigate

Five in hospital after explosion at business near downtown Red Deer

14h ago

$29,000 donation

United Way Central Alberta chosen as Bower Place Shopping Centre's 2024 charity of choice

15h ago

Each of the three champions is conducting a Facebook Live interview with their book’s author, and the public can vote for the one they think most worthy of being the winning title at rdpl.org.

Mayor Veer chatted with Max Eisen last month, Datus will speak with Red Deer’s own Cole on July 29, and Hermary will interview Berkhout on Aug. 5.

Voting will run through Aug. 31 with the winner announced in September as part of Alberta Culture Days. A personal visit from the author to the library will then be arranged for the fall.

“Each book’s protagonist is unique and fascinating in a way that they represent very different demographics and walks of life. They are a snapshot of the Canadian multicultural society’s fabric,” says Tilly.

“I would not want to give spoilers, but I hope that most Red Deerians will read all three finalists and vote for the book featuring a protagonist that they feel we all have to read about, empathize with and be inspired by.”

Adds Tilly: “Even if other people have not even thought about these issues, reading about them can help to be more empathetic to other community members. An empathetic community is a caring and supportive community where people feel safe. Red Deer Reads’ shared reading experience can bring us a little closer to this goal.”

Three other books which nearly made the final cut were The Push by Ashley Audrain, Misconduct of the Heart by Cordelia Strube, and Chasing Painted Horses by Drew Hayden Taylor.

More information, including on where to watch the past and upcoming Facebook interviews, and to vote, is at rdpl.org/reddeerreads.