A citywide reading program may offer singles a place to meet each other while discussing one of the most famous books to originate from the Northwest.
The Friendly Area Neighborhood instituted a citywide program called “Readin’ in the Rain” that began Feb. 11 and will continue through April 2. The goal of the program is to encourage community members to read local author Ken Kesey’s “Sometimes a Great Notion” and take part in the events and discussions that are held for the book.
James Cunningham, co-chairman of the Friendly Area Neighborhood and a program founder, said he heard about a similar program in Chicago using Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
Bringing community members together is the theme of the program, especially in the wake of Sept. 11, said Scott Landfield, program co-founder and owner of Tsunami Books. “If we’re all going to be banding together, let’s get to know each other,” he said.
He said the discussion groups are an excellent way to get to know people.
“It’s a great place to meet singles,” Landfield said, adding that there is romance in Kesey’s book.
Cunningham said it took him less than five minutes to choose Kesey’s book for the program.
“Kesey (was) probably the most famous author in the area,” he said, adding that “Sometimes a Great Notion” contains a history of Lane County.
Cunningham said he talked to Kesey before he passed away Nov. 10, 2001, from complications after liver surgery, and he said Kesey was excited about the idea for the reading program. Kesey wanted to extend the program long enough so he could participate after he recovered from surgery.
“Interest really grew after his passing,” Cunningham said, adding that many area bookstores supported the program.
He said when someone buys the book, they receive a button that shows they are part of the “Readin’ in the Rain” program.
Joyce Berman, communications director for Eugene.com, said she heard about the “Readin’ in the Rain” idea and decided to make it a citywide event. She also said Eugene.com provides background on the book and the author.
Berman said it was hard to know exactly how many people have become involved in the program, but she thinks it has definitely received a positive response.
Landfield said sales of “Sometimes a Great Notion” dramatically increased since the program’s inception. Before the program started, he would sell about one copy of the book every month, but now he has sold about 300 in the past three weeks.
“I’m sure all the bookstores are selling a lot” of copies, Landfield said. “The (public) library has 100 copies, and they are all checked out.”
He said he was especially excited by the program because he had always wanted to meet Kesey, and he was hoping to gain inspiration from his participation in the program.
“‘Sometimes a Great Notion’ was far and away his best book,” Landfield said. He said it has great descriptions and characterizations that are easily distinguishable to a native of the Northwest.
Landfield said the discussions are extremely helpful for readers, especially if it is their first time reading the book.
“The average reader can get a lot out of it — but it is a test of intelligence,” he said.
Berman said the book tells the story of the conflict between two brothers, when one of the brothers returns to the small logging community in the midst of a strike after living on the East Coast for several years.
“You really feel like (Kesey) has captured what it feels like to live (in the Northwest),” Berman said.
The discussions are not like lectures, Landfield said, and they often are accompanied by good food and entertainment.
Cunningham said he hopes the program will inspire community members to meet new people. Turnout at the various events and group discussions has been high, small groups tending to bring in between five and 10 participants and large groups bringing in between 50 and 100 participants. Out of the 23 neighborhood associations in Eugene, about half are participating, he said.
The thought within the program, according to Cunningham, was that if two people are waiting for a bus and they are both wearing the “Readin’ in the Rain” buttons, it gives them the freedom to strike up a conversation with each other.
“Readin’ in the Rain” will culminate in a screening of the movie “Sometimes a Great Notion” April 1 and 2 at the McDonald Theatre. The Merry Pranksters will perform at the April Fool’s Day screening. Tickets are $10 for the April 1 performance and $20 for the April 2 performance. All proceeds will be donated to the new library and the neighborhood associations.
For more information about “Readin’ in the Rain” events, visit www.eugene.com.