Lafayette Reads Together (LRT) is a community-wide reading program from the Lafayette Public Library, the Lafayette Parish School System, and many local organizations to get the community reading, sharing and discussing the same book. Free copies of the book will be available at all library branches, donated by the Lafayette Public Library Foundation, beginning Monday, January 13.
The 2020 community read, Dry by New York Times bestselling author Neal Shusterman, is an amazing, timely novel. Co-written with his son Jarrod Shusterman, Dry is a ‘cli-fi’ (climate-fiction) survivalist thriller that explores “what would happen if all the water in Southern California ran out?” The story follows four teens that are thrust together as a matter of survival. The narration alternates between each teen’s unique perspective and their experiences. It’s a cautionary tale that may start conversations about natural resources, conservation, and sustainability.
Join us for An Evening with Author Neal Shusterman on Tuesday, February 11 at the Main Library (6:15 – 7:30 pm) where he will discuss his novel, Dry. We follow Alyssa and her younger brother as they search for their parents during the turbulent natural disaster. Ages 12 & up.
Take part in one of the LRT Pop-Up Book Clubs! These book discussions will take place on Sunday, February 16 at The Tap Room (1:00 – 2:30 pm, Ages 21 & up) and Saturday, February 29 at Carpe Diem! Gelato (2:00 – 3:00 pm, Ages 14 & up). Businesses and groups can also join this effort, simply by agreeing to have members read the book, and distributing books to employees or hosting programs. Be sure to visit LafayettePublicLibrary.org for more Lafayette Reads Together programs.
The community read will run January 13 through March 14 and will include film showings, presentations, programs for adults and teens and more at library branches and throughout the community. The community read, which is celebrating its sixth year, will culminate during ArtWalk at the AcA with a student exhibition inspired by the book.
Lafayette Reads Together is sponsored by the Lafayette Public Library Foundation. Community partners include the Lafayette Parish School System, Lafayette Consolidated Government, Acadiana Center for the Arts, LUS Fiber, Lafayette Utilities System, Leadership Institute of Acadiana, and Edith Garland Dupré Library.
