Now in its Third Year!

2011 One Book One County Book Selection Revealed March 10!

The waiting is over for book lovers in Dufferin County. The Chief Librarians of Grand Valley, Shelburne and Orangeville Public Libraries join the staff of BookLore in announcing the 2011 One Book One County title at the Dufferin County Council Meeting on March 10, 2011.

Now in its third year, One Book One County encourages all residents of Dufferin County to read together in one gigantic book club. The program promotes reading and a culture of discussion by having people participate in book clubs, on-line discussions, contests and activities related to the theme of the book.

The book chosen as the selection this year is Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden.

About Dufferin Reads 2011! One Book One County

Ask anyone who belongs to a book club what they get out of it, and you'll get lots of different answers such as: It's fun! I get to connect with others. I can share my love of reading with other like-minded people. I enjoy talking about the books we read. We're able to see beyond our own experience of the book, and learn about each other in the process.

That's exactly what Dufferin Reads! 2011 One Book One County, a county-wide book club, is all about - the opportunity to connect with one another; to share the common experience of reading the same title at the same time, and to discuss, grow, and learn about each other in the process. And, of course, let's not forget - it's fun!

Anyone can "join" just by reading the book; there are no regular meetings, and no commitment required. Impromptu discussions can happen anywhere that people meet; in the grocery store, at the coffee shop, at the gym, in the park - literally anywhere in Dufferin County! It provides an opportunity for people to connect, share, and learn about one another in a way that celebrates a love of reading, promotes literacy and reinforces a strong sense of community.

BookLore and the Orangeville, Shelburne and Grand Valley Public Libraries have lots of extra copies of the book available, and we encourage everyone to read the book and hope you'll all attend the great activities, contests, and events we have planned.

Find us on Facebook, and get in on what we're confident will be the best One Book One County program yet.

About the Book

Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden

Award-winning author Joseph Boyden has crafted a powerful tale of two young Native men united in friendship while facing the chaos and terror of World War 1. Heralded by the Globe and Mail as "a remarkable achievement and a breathtaking debut", Three Day Road has been published in ten languages. A Grand Finale of Three Day Road One book One County featuring author Joseph Boyden will be held the end of May - date and time to be announced.

According to Dufferin Warden Warren Maycock, "It's always wonderful to discover a good book to enjoy reading so it's even better to be able to encourage the entire county to participate in this regional campaign."  As an avid reader and local educator, Warden Maycock adds "The best part of the ‘One Book One County' program is that we're able to talk to others reading the same book - and we are introduced to a book that we might not otherwise have read. You know it's going to be a good read when it's supported by the three libraries in the County and BookLore. I'm looking forward to this piece of historical fiction and the experiences of two Cree soldiers who became famous snipers in the Canadian Army during the First World War."

The novel was inspired by the life of Francis Pegahmagabow, the legendary First World War sniper. It's told from the perspective of Xavier Bird, a Cree soldier who returns to Northern Ontario after the war. The time is 1919 and his aunt Niska, the last Oji-Cree medicine woman to live off the land, has received word that Xavier has returned, gravely wounded. As Niska paddles her canoe on the three day journey to take him home their respective stories emerge. Three Day Road is a stunning tale of survival and rebirth.

"A beautifully written and haunting story of survival and innocence shattered, of friendship, death, redemption, and love of the land... Please, please don't miss it!"                    - Isabel Allende

About Joseph Boyden

A Canadian of Irish, Scottish and Metis roots, he divides his time between northern Ontario and Louisiana, where he teaches writing at the University of New Orleans.  

Joseph Boyden was born and raised in Willowdale. He is the third youngest of 11 children. His father, a doctor in the Second World War, well- known for his bravery was awarded the Distinguished Service Order - the highest decorated medical officer of the war.

His father died when Boyden was only eight years old, leaving his mother, a school teacher, to care for his family.

Boyden draws on family stories and his close ties to the Ojibwe people for his fiction. After his student days at the University of New Orleans he took a job as professor of Aboriginal programs on James Bay. He was introduced to the Mushkegowuk Cree, northern cousins of the Ojibwe. Stationed in Moosenee he worked up and down the reserves of the coast - teaching communications, his wanderlust satisfied by moose and caribou hunts and snowmobile treks into the frozen wilderness of Hudson Bay. Although he spends much of the year teaching at the University of New Orleans, he returns often to Northern Ontario, the basis for his literary muse.

His other book titles include Through Black Spruce (Winner of the 2008 Scotiabank Giller Prize), Born with a Tooth, and Louis Riel & Gabriel Dumont.

To learn more about the author, visit Joseph Boyden's website.

Books and Awards

Three Day Road

• Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize
• Canadian Booksellers Association Libris Award Fiction Book of the Year
• Books in Canada First Novel Award
• Governor General's Award for Fiction Nominee
• CBC Canada Reads Selection

Through Black Spruce

• Winner of the Scotiabank Giller Prize
• Winner of the CBA Fiction Book of the Year & Author of the Year

Born With a Tooth (Short Stories)

Get a Copy of Three Day Road

Lots of extra copies of this title are available to borrow at the Orangeville, Shelburne and Grand Valley Public Libraries, and for purchase at BookLore.

You may place a hold request for this title at the Orangeville Public Library by telephone, in person, or by clicking on the following link (for patrons set up for online access). Three Day Road

Mill St. location: 519-941-0610, ext. 5223

Email:

Programs

Native Culture and Veterans of Dufferin County

Guest Wayne Townsend of the Dufferin County Museum and Archives will be at the Mill St. branch of the Orangeville Public Library on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 3:00pm in the meeting room on the lower leve. Admission is free. Everyone is welcome.

Wisdom of the Ages: Great Circle Stories and Drumming

Join us on Friday, May 13, 2011 at 2:00pm in the meeting room of the Mill St. library for an informative workshop and demonstration for adults by professional singer, actor, and playwright Shannon Thunderbird.

Shannon will share with us the time-honoured Medicine Wheel Teachings, featured in her recently published book, Medicine Wheel and Character Education in the 21st Century. Among the oldest teachings of First Nations people, Medicine Wheel Teachings relate to the healing message of the novel Three Day Road, by Joseph Boyden. Shannon will also demonstrate traditional native storytelling and drumming.

This Dufferin Reads 2011! One Book One County program is free of charge, and everyone is welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Grand Finale Tickets Available Now!

The 2011 Grand Finale will take place on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 7:30pm at the Orangeville Opera House. Critically acclaimed author, Joseph Boyden will headline this evening of entertainment, good company, and refreshments. Mr. Boyden will perform a public reading from his award-winning debut novel, Three Day Road.

Three Day Road became international bestseller and continues to be a bestseller in Canada. In addition, the novel has won a number of awards and prizes, including The Rogers Writers Trust Prize; Aboriginal Book of the Year Award; Canadian Authors Association Book of the Year Award; The Libris Book of the Year Award; Amazon First Novel Award; the Festival America Readers' Award, Vincennes, Paris; and the Ontario Library Association Book of the Year. 

Tickets are $10 each (general seating) and are available at BookLore, and the Orangeville, Grand Valley, and Shelburne Public Libraries, while quantities last.

Contest

Visit a participating library or drop by BookLore and correctly answer the question of the week, and your name will be entered in a draw for a chance to win the opportunity to meet with Joseph Boyden and discuss the book, as well as reserved seating for the Grand Finale.

There will be a new question every week so you will have 10 chances to win!

Contest winners will each get one free reserved seat for the grand finale and a chance to meet and talk with Joseph Boyden prior to the finale.

Contest Winners

Week 1 - Contest Question for March 15 - March 21

What is the name of Xavier's aunt?

Nobody correctly answered: Niska. Keep reading and try again for more chances to win!

Week 2 - Contest Question for March 22 - March 28

What language do Xavier and Elijah speak when they don't want the other members of their battalion to understand them?

Congratulations to Vicky Amadouny who correctly answered: Cree

Week 3 - Contest Question for March 29 - April 4

What body part does Xavier have amputated?

Congratulations to Stephanie Rowe who correctly answered: His left leg

Week 4 - Contest Question for April 5 - 11

Both Xavier and Elijah become addicted to what drug?

Congratulations to Steve Crocker who correctly answered: Morphine

Week 5 - Contest Question for April 12 - 18

How does Xavier earn his nickname ‘X'?

Congratulations to Laurie Orford who correctly answered: He lights a match by touching its tip with a bullet he fired

Week 6 - Contest Question for April 19 - 25

Xavier comes from a long line of killers of what huge beast that eats human flesh?

Congratulations to Ida Carr who correctly answered: Windigo

Week 7 - Contest Question for April 26 - May 2

Xavier and Elijah act as a sniper team with Elijah doing the shooting and Xavier doing what?

Congratulations to Linda Dadd who correctly answered: Spotting

Week 8 - Contest Question for May 3 - 9

Xavier receives a letter telling him he is the last in his family and must raise a child. What does he interpret this to mean?

Congratulations to Nicole Thompson who correctly answered: He assumes Niska has died

Week 9 - Contest Question for May 10 - 16

Besides his dog tags, what does Xavier wear around his neck?

Congratulations to Susan Boon, who correctly answered: A medicine bundle

Week 10 - Contest Question for May 17 - 23

How does Elijah die?

Nobody correctly answered: Xavier kills him

Thanks to everyone who entered, and congratulations to all the winners, who have won a reserved seat at the Grand Finale and an opportunity meet author Joseph Boyden. Enjoy your prize!

For Further Information

Visit BookLore or the Orangeville, Shelburne, and Grand Valley Libraries for updates, contest information, event details, and more. You'll also find us on Facebook.

• Rose Dotten, Shelburne Public Library 
• Darla Fraser, Orangeville Public Library
• Nancy Frater, BookLore
• Shann Leighton, Grand Valley Public Library

Dufferin Reads 2011! One Book One County is brought to you by BookLore and the Public Libraries of Orangeville, Shelburne, and Grand Valley. Local sponsors are Mono Arts and Graphics Printing Ltd., the Banner and the Orangeville Citizen.