The 2013 One Book – One Lincoln program was wrapped up December 8, 2013, with the final special program, but information about The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and One Book – One Lincoln – 2013 is still available on this archive page.
The twelfth annual One Book – One Lincoln community reading program began on September 3, 2013, with the announcement of Rachel Joyce’s charming, quirky and ultimately uplifting debut novel, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, as the selected title for 2013. The scheduled events of One Book — One Lincoln — 2013 will take place throughout September, October, and early November.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce has been selected for the 2013 “One Book — One Lincoln” program.
About One Book – One Lincoln – 2013
One Book – One Lincoln is a community reading program sponsored by Lincoln City Libraries. The program encourages all adults in Lincoln and Lancaster County to read and discuss the same book at the same time. The goal of the program is to encourage reading and dialogue by creating a community wide reading and discussion experience.
The idea of city-wide reading programs started in Seattle in 1998 with the program “If All Seattle Read the Same Book” initiated by the Washington Center for the Book, located at the Seattle Public Library. The Library of Congress’ Center for the Book reports that “One Book” programs are being introduced across the U.S.A. and around the world.
This is Lincoln’s 12th straight year of the program. Since 2002, the citizens of Lincoln and the surrounding communities have been encouraged to read the same book each fall, and participate in special programming and book discussions. Starting in 2010, the public has voted to determine the final selection each year. You can see an archive of the previous eleven years’ worth of One Book – One Lincoln selections at our One Book main page.
Lincoln City Libraries Reference staff have compiled additional resources about The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Candice Millard.
How can I participate?
- Get the Book. Check out a copy, in print, audio or downloadable formats, of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry at any of the Lincoln City Libraries or purchase your own copy at your local bookstore. The title is available at Lincoln City Libraries in hardback and paperback, Large Type, Downloadable E-book, Downloadable Audiobook, and Unabridged Book-on-CD formats. This title is also available as a Book Club in a Bag version, for book clubs wishing to check out multiple copies at once!
- Read! Join your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and fellow Lincolnites in reading the same book – together!
- Watch an informational program about this year’s One Book — One Lincoln which will begin airing on CityTV (Channel 5 local cable) in September on both Channel 5 and the On Demand channels.
- Attend our related programs.
- Look at our Resource Page about The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, and watch for the official schedule of events, in September!
- Visit our One Book — One Lincoln Facebook page (see the Fan box below!).
- Sign up to receive e-mail updates about One Book-related programs and events on our 2013 Finalists page.
- Discuss the Book in Person or Online! Attend a Community Discussion at your local library or bookstore. A complete list of Community Discussion opportunities is available here. Print off the official Discussion Questions (posted soon!) for your own book group, or contact the library to have a trained facilitator come and lead your own discussion group. Or visit our One Book One Lincoln Blog to reply to discussion topics posted in a discussion forum.
- Listen to Podcast recordings about The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry on our Podcasts page, or check out our Podcasts Index page, which has a complete list of all current and past One Book-related podcasts!
We can provide a discussion leader for your group
So you want to have a One Book – One Lincoln discussion group, but you don’t have a discussion leader? During September, October and November and beyond, Lincoln City Libraries staff will be available to organizations, businesses and clubs interested in hosting a discussion group. Visit our Finalists page, to request a book discussion leader via our online form, or for further information, call Lincoln City Libraries’ South Branch, 441-8571 (ask for Marcy)
What programs will there be?
Several special programs are being scheduled at various locations during September, October, and November, with ties to the themes and events of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. You can see descriptions at our One Book – One Lincoln Programs and Events page.
How was The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry chosen?
A call for nominations from the community in January and February resulted in over 200 nominations for 151 different titles being received. The general criteria for the title included:
- Fiction or Non-Fiction
- Of general interest to adults and young adults
- Sparks thoughtful discussion
- Easily available in paperback
- Address universal themes of life
- Readable
A selection committee with community-wide representation was formed, which narrowed the list down to nine titles and ultimately the Three Finalists, which were announced to the public in May. Members of the selection committee included:
- David Smith, Chair
- Janet Anderbery
- Magdalena Benton
- Patty Beutler
- Elaine Caster
- Yvonne Davenport
- Conchita Hernandez
- Ardis Holland
- Mary Jane Humphrey
- Cyndy Maddux
- Donna Kennedy Marvin
- Tom Pappas
- Layne Pierce
- Lin Quenzer
- Jodi Rethmeier
- Ann Thompson
- Kathie Uhrmacher
Starting in 2010, the public has been invited to vote on which of the top Finalists you would like to see as the ultimate selection for each year. The title you, the citizens of LIncoln, have selected for 2013 — with an overwhelming percentage of the votes cast — is The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Joyce.
“Meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does. Little differentiates one day from the next. Then one morning a letter arrives, addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl, from a woman he hasn’t heard from in twenty years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye. But before Harold mails off a quick reply, a chance encounter convinces him that he absolutely must deliver his message to Queenie in person. In his yachting shoes and light coat, Harold Fry embarks on an urgent quest. Determined to walk six hundred miles to the hospice, Harold believes that as long as he walks, Queenie will live. A novel of charm, humor, and profound insight into the thoughts and feelings we all bury deep within our hearts, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry introduces Rachel Joyce as a wise – and utterly irresistible – storyteller.”
What other books were considered for 2013?
The other finalists in the top three for One Book – One Lincoln – 2013 were:
You can also Click Here for more detailed information about these books, and for a list of the other books in the Top Ten for 2013.
