THE GREAT AMERICAN READ
We would like to choose our next books to read for our book clubs from the list of books in The Great American Read. Please let the library Know what books you would like to see as a selection for our book clubs. Your opinion is very important to us, so please let us know!
You can call the library, stop by and tell our librarian, or use the Contact Information to the left to email the library with your selections. |
PBS is sponsoring THE GREAT AMERICAN READ. THE GREAT AMERICAN READ is an eight-part series that explores and celebrates the power of reading, told through the prism of America’s 100 best-loved novels (as chosen in a national survey). It investigates how and why writers create their fictional worlds, how we as readers are affected by these stories, and what these 100 different books have to say about our diverse nation and our shared human experience.
The television series features entertaining and informative documentary segments, with compelling testimonials from celebrities, authors, notable Americans and book lovers across the country. It is comprised of a two-hour launch episode in which the list of 100 books is revealed, five one-hour theme episodes that examine concepts common to groups of books on the list, and a finale, in which the results are announced of a nationwide vote to choose America’s best-loved book.
The series is the centerpiece of an ambitious multi-platform digital, educational and community outreach campaign, designed to get the country reading and passionately talking about books.
While the Launch Special was shown on May 22, 2018, it is available to watch online. The Fall Kick-off show was on Tuesday, September 11th, but, again, it is available to watch online. There are a remaining 6 shows to watch in real time. The schedule is as follows:
"Who Am I?" (Premieres Tuesday, September 18, 2018 7:00 pm)
"Heroes" (Premieres Tuesday, September 25, 2018 7:00 pm)
"Villains and Monsters" (Premieres Tuesday, October 2, 2018 7:00 pm)
“What We Do For Love” (Premieres Tuesday, October 9, 2018 7:00 pm)
“Other Worlds” (Premieres Tuesday, October 16, 2018 7:00 pm)
"Grand Finale" (Premieres Tuesday, October 23, 2018 7:00 pm)
The Menard Public Library has many of the 100 books in this series and encourages you to come in and check out a book and READ! The library also has computers available on which you can watch the episodes you may missed.
So, how were the top 100 books chosen? PBS and the producers worked with the public opinion polling service “YouGov” to conduct a demographically and statistically representative survey asking Americans to name their most-loved novel. Approximately 7,200 people participated.
How was the list narrowed to the top 100? The results were tallied and organized based on our selection criteria and overseen by an advisory panel of 13 literary industry professionals. The criteria for inclusion on the top 100 list were as follows:
Each author was limited to one title on the list (to keep the list varied).
THE GREAT AMERICAN READ is searching for the country’s best-loved novel. While we recognize the broad categories of books available, we chose to narrow our focus to works of fiction because it would be impossible to cover them all over the course of an eight-part series.
Check out the link above to see the list of 100 books. Which ones have you read? Which books are your favorites? Which would you like to read?
The television series features entertaining and informative documentary segments, with compelling testimonials from celebrities, authors, notable Americans and book lovers across the country. It is comprised of a two-hour launch episode in which the list of 100 books is revealed, five one-hour theme episodes that examine concepts common to groups of books on the list, and a finale, in which the results are announced of a nationwide vote to choose America’s best-loved book.
The series is the centerpiece of an ambitious multi-platform digital, educational and community outreach campaign, designed to get the country reading and passionately talking about books.
While the Launch Special was shown on May 22, 2018, it is available to watch online. The Fall Kick-off show was on Tuesday, September 11th, but, again, it is available to watch online. There are a remaining 6 shows to watch in real time. The schedule is as follows:
"Who Am I?" (Premieres Tuesday, September 18, 2018 7:00 pm)
"Heroes" (Premieres Tuesday, September 25, 2018 7:00 pm)
"Villains and Monsters" (Premieres Tuesday, October 2, 2018 7:00 pm)
“What We Do For Love” (Premieres Tuesday, October 9, 2018 7:00 pm)
“Other Worlds” (Premieres Tuesday, October 16, 2018 7:00 pm)
"Grand Finale" (Premieres Tuesday, October 23, 2018 7:00 pm)
The Menard Public Library has many of the 100 books in this series and encourages you to come in and check out a book and READ! The library also has computers available on which you can watch the episodes you may missed.
So, how were the top 100 books chosen? PBS and the producers worked with the public opinion polling service “YouGov” to conduct a demographically and statistically representative survey asking Americans to name their most-loved novel. Approximately 7,200 people participated.
How was the list narrowed to the top 100? The results were tallied and organized based on our selection criteria and overseen by an advisory panel of 13 literary industry professionals. The criteria for inclusion on the top 100 list were as follows:
Each author was limited to one title on the list (to keep the list varied).
- Books published in series or featuring ongoing characters counted as one eligible entry on the list (e.g. the Harry Potter series or Lord of the Rings)to increase variety.
- Books could be from anywhere in the world as long as they were published in English.
- Only fiction could be included in the poll.
- Each advisory panel member was permitted to select one book for discussion and possible inclusion on the top 100 list from the longer list of survey results.
THE GREAT AMERICAN READ is searching for the country’s best-loved novel. While we recognize the broad categories of books available, we chose to narrow our focus to works of fiction because it would be impossible to cover them all over the course of an eight-part series.
Check out the link above to see the list of 100 books. Which ones have you read? Which books are your favorites? Which would you like to read?