Theresa Breslin’s ‘Divided City’ has just been chosen as the ‘One Book’ in a community-reading project in Donegal and the Western Education & Library Board in Northern Ireland. The project is part of the Inspiring Readers programme, an EU funded project through the programme for Peace and Reconciliation (Peace11). This cross border project aims to encourage people to use books creatively to tackle issues like conflict resolution and cultural identity. The One Book project will run from March to June 2006.
A panel of library staff with support from the Community Relations Council have chosen Theresa Breslin’s ‘Divided City’. (Doubleday, 0385607679)
The book was chosen because it addresses sectarianism, is accessible to a wide age range and reading ability, and it was felt that the football theme will engage more readers. It aims to bring communities together to discuss issues around peace and reconciliation by encouraging them to read the same book at the same time.
Librarians are hoping that they can get over 1,000 people reading the book, between March and June this year. The book tackles the issues of religious and social bigotry in present day Glasgow, with the added elements of attitudes to asylum seekers in a story of football rivalry and friendship. However, a passage from the book hilariously explains how you can tell a catholic from a protestant by how they hang up their washing. This and other sections of the book captures the humour, which is often missing from novels dealing with these issues. The book is being distributed to libraries at the moment.
The ‘One book’ project will be launched in libraries at the beginning of March and all events are free and open to the public. There will be a number of events in libraries, discussing the book and other books’ approaches to dealing with conflict situations.
Events:
Tuesday, 7th March, 2006 at 7.30pm in Omagh
‘How you hang up your washing and what it says about you – culture and books’. Readings and panel discussion with author Theresa Breslin and Maurna Crozier from Community Relations Council.
Wednesday 8th March
10.30am -11.45am Enniskillen Library (target audience 15-16 year olds)
1.30pm - 2.30pm Bundoran Library (target audience 15-16 year olds)
6.30pm - Radio Ulster for Arts Extra programme
8.00pm -9.00pm Buncrana Library. Meet the author –readings and an opportunity to meet with award winning novelist Theresa Breslin.
Thursday 9th March, Radio Foyle, 10.30am Derry Central Library
Events will be ongoing during April & May
For further information contact:
Frances Crampsie
Inspiring Readers Project Co-ordinator
Donegal County Council
Tel: 074 91 94200