Please join the Sawyer Free Library on Thursday, January 9 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm for an Author Talk with Diane C. Bradley. The Boston-based author Diane C. Bradley will discuss The Summer Before, her gripping novel about trauma, guilt, and the resilience of friendship which explores the shattering impact of abuse and healing journey that follows.
All are invited, no registration required. The discussion will take place at the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street in Gloucester. If you have questions, please contact: lsvensson@sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5500.
AboutThe Summer Before:
If the perpetrator is also someone you love, there are no words.
Madeline and Summer are more than best friends. They might as well be sisters; they’ve claimed the title, anyway-and sisters tell each other everything. But Summer has a secret she’s been hiding for years. Someone’s been hurting her, someone close, and when it comes out, it destroys everything around her with the force of dying stars.
Six years after the trial, Madeline is a haunted young woman trying to build a new life in Boston, but the guilt of her betrayal brings her to the brink of suicide. To let go of the past, Madeline must confront her father, mother, and all those involved with the trial that split her family apart-or continue her descent, finishing what she started to escape it.
About the Author:
A raw, gritty New Englander, Dianne C. Bradley, is a registered nurse and freelance writer. Dianne and her family, both human, furry, and feathered, are firmly planted in a small town north of Boston, not far enough away to lose her city edge. After falling in love with Martha’s Vineyard on a weekend visit as a girl, she returns every summer, reigniting her passion for writing in the magical place that inspired it.
Please join the Sawyer Free Library on Saturday, November 9 at 2:30 pm for an author talk with Melissa Ludtke, who will be discussing her book, Locker Room Talk: A Woman’s Struggle to Get Inside, her gripping account of being at the core of this globally covered case that churned up ugly prejudices about the place of women in sports. Joining her in the conversation will be fellow local author of The Tigerbelles, Aime Card.
The event is being presented with the Bookstore of Gloucester who will be selling copies of Melissa’s book. No registration is required. If you have questions, please call the Library at 978-325-5500.
About Locker Room Talk:
“Locker Room Talk: A Woman’s Struggle to Get Inside,” to be published by Rutgers University Press, Melissa Ludtke describes what it was like to be the 26-year old woman swept up by the societal hurricane spinning around her lawsuit against Major League Baseball. Living in the bulls-eye of sexist commentary exacted a high emotional toll on her, as those who wanted to protect the well-fortified bastion of male privilege argued against Ludtke’s legal claim, often by mocking her. To them, she was a terrifying symbol of women’s liberation during a time of revolutionary change in women’s lives. Still, Melissa’s legal case carved pathways which generations of girls followed.
About the Author:
In her award-winning journalism career, Melissa Ludtke reported at Sports Illustrated, was a correspondent at Time, and the editor of Nieman Reports at Harvard University’s Nieman Foundation for Journalism. Her lifelong engagement with issues revolving around girls and women’s lives led her to write two books, “On Our Own: Unmarried Motherhood in America,” and “Touching Home in China: in search of missing girlhoods.” In “Locker Room Talk: A Woman’s Struggle to Get Inside,” her upcoming memoir, Melissa revisits her federal lawsuit, Ludtke v. Kuhn, which in 1978 secured equal access for women sports reporters. This meant women could interview players, coaches and the manager in the locker room, as male reporters had done for decades. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and lives in Cambridge, MA with her college-aged daughter, Maya.
Please join the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street on Saturday, October 12 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm for BOOKS & BRUNCH a readers’ advisory program for 18+ adults who are looking for their next great read!
Get book suggestions from our community librarian, chat amongst one another with guided questions for book lovers, and learn all about the most recent buzzworthy books! The program will conclude with book and book lover’s trivia for a chance to win a prize! Light brunch and refreshments will be provided.
Together in partnership, the Sawyer Free Library, Gloucester’s Racial Justice Team and Gloucester Health Department, announce the launch of Gloucester Reads2024, a citywide, intergenerational summer reading initiative. Running through August, this community-wide book club aims to spark conversations, inspire new ideas, and encourage introspection about race equity in our community.
In collaboration with sixteen additional community co-sponsors, Gloucester Reads 2024 will explore books reflecting Black experiences in America. This initiative includes selections for adults, young adults and children. Adults can participate in three ways: reading the book, joining a structured discussion group, and attending the virtual author’s talk. Young children and their families can participate by attending one of the readings being offered by several co-sponsors.
The summer book club’s main selection is How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith. This acclaimed book, which has won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, the Hillman Prize for Book Journalism, the Stowe Prize, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, focuses on the history and present impact of slavery in the United States. Through eight sites, including New Orleans, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, New York City, and Angola Prison, Smith uses archival research and interviews to offer an intergenerational story of how slavery has shaped our nation’s history and memory.
For teens and tweens participants, the Gloucester Reads selection is The Promise Boys by Nick Brooks. In this murder mystery, the three boys of color accused of murder cunningly work together to discover the truth. For children and families, the picture book, Our Skin, A First Conversation About Race, which explains the range of humanity’s skin colors by Jessica Ralli and Megan Madison and illustrated by Isabel Roxas, will serve as the Family Book Club pick.
“We are honored to spearhead this important citywide reading initiative,” said Sawyer Free Library’s Director Jenny Benedict. “Gloucester Reads 2024 highlights the power of books to ignite empathy and inspire big ideas that promote communication, equity, collaboration, and learning. Bringing our community together helps to create a welcoming Gloucester for everyone.”
“The Gloucester Racial Justice Team is made up of individuals dedicated to fostering an inclusive and thriving city. Our mission—to create a safe and welcoming city where people from all races, ethnicities, and cultures can flourish—sets the stage for this exploration,” added Gloucester Racial Justice Co-Chair Michea McCaffre. “Gloucester Reads 2024 invites the entire community to join this collective endeavor, one that promises not only to enlighten us, but also to spur us to action.”
“Gloucester Reads 2024 intends to draw connections between the past and the present, deepening our understanding of the Black experience in Gloucester and the United States. We also want to cultivate a sense of unity, where every person feels a sense of belonging, in our beloved Gloucester,” said Nancy Goodman, the group’s other Co-Chair.
Moderated discussion groups on How the Word Is Passed will be hosted by different community partners throughout Gloucester between July 28 and August 11. Those interested in participating can find additional information at sawyerfreelibrary.org or by visiting the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street. Participants are asked to pre-register.
Gloucester Reads 2024 will culminate in September with a live-stream panel discussion with Clint Smith, the New York Times bestselling author of the award-winning book How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America. Among his many other accomplishments, Smith is also the author of two poetry books, Above Ground and Counting Descent, both winners of the Literary Award for Best Poetry Book from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and were finalists for NAACP Image Awards. This exciting and engaging event will be open to the public, with more details forthcoming.
The Sawyer Free Library will distribute free copies How the Word Is Passed at select community events, including the Juneteenth Celebration and Festival on Sunday, June 16 at the Cape Ann Museum. The books are also available for “check-out” at the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street. Ebooks and Eaudiobooks are available instantly to anyone with a Library card and the Libby app. All Gloucester Reads books are also available for purchase at The Gloucester Bookstore and Suzie’s Stories in Rockport.
To ensure everyone can participate, Gloucester Reads is offering to cover childcare expenses for those attending discussion groups, the author’s talk, or both. Participants can request funds on the discussion group registration form.
For those looking to learn even more, other recommended Gloucester Reads titles include Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, His Name is George Floydby Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa, The Fire This Timeby Jesmyn Ward, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Storeby James McBride and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.
For additional details and a complete list of Gloucester Reads 2024 programs, book suggestions, and learning resources on racial equity, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.
The community is invited to the final event for Gloucester Reads, a summer initiative, when best-selling author Kiely Reid will take part virtually on Tuesday, Aug. 15 at Gloucester Stage Company located at 267 East Main Street.
Doors open for the free event at 6 p.m., and starting at 6:30 p.m., Reid, author of the award-winning “Such a Fun Age, will talk about her work. There will be selected readings from her book, “Such a Fun Age,” and a panel discussion in connection with Gloucester Reads.
The program moderator is Michea McCaffrey, co-chair of the Gloucester Racial Justice Team and member of the Gloucester Human Rights Commission. The panel includes James Cook, principal of Gloucester High School; and Doug Rich, co-owner of Susie’s Stories in Rockport, and who also is a jazz musician. Refreshments will follow.
Reid is a New York Times bestselling author and an assistant professor at the University of Michigan. “Such A Fun Age” was her debut novel and was longlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize.
Gloucester Reads Event:
Doors open at 6 pm Author Kiley Reid speaks (virtually) from 6:30 – 7:30 pm Community discussion and refreshments from 7:30 – 8 pm
The Sawyer Free Libraryis excited to be a part of Gloucester Reads, a community wide book club that has just kicked off and will run through August.
Presented by Gloucester’s Racial Justice Team and the Gloucester Health Department, in collaboration with the Sawyer Free Library and fifteen additional co-sponsors, the citywide, intergenerational summer reading initiative aims to spark conversation and new ideas and encourage introspection about race equity in our community.
Gloucester Reads will explore books by Black authors that reflect Black experiences in America to increase understanding of the history and current status of race in Gloucester and the United States and build a strong community to foster a feeling of belonging for everyone.
Gloucester Reads includes books for all ages, interests, and reading levels. The summer book club’s main selection is “Such a Fun Age” by Kiley Reid. This engaging story about race and privilege is set around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both, revealing complex characters, misguided intentions, and little resolution.
The Library will distribute free copies of “Such A Fun Age” at select community events, including the Juneteenth Celebration and Festival on Sunday, June 18, at the Cape Ann Museum. The books are also available for check-out at the Sawyer Free Library located at 21 Main Street. Downloaded Ebooks and Eaudiobooks are available instantly to anyone with a Library card and a Libby app. All Gloucester Reads books are also available for purchase at select local bookstores.
Discussion groups on “Such a Fun Age” will be held throughout the city during the month of July. Those interested in being involved can find additional information at sawyerfreelibrary.org.
Other Gloucester Reads titles include “Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019″ by Ibram Kendi and Keisha Blain and the award-winning memoir “The Love You Save” by Goldie Taylor. And, especially for children and families, the picture book “Black is a Rainbow Color” by Angela Joy, illustrated by Ekua Holmes, will serve as the Family Book Club pick throughout the Read with the graphic novel “Ain’t Burned All the Bright” by Jason Reynolds, artwork by Jason Griffin selected for tweens and teens.
Gloucester Reads will then culminate on the evening of August 15 with a live-stream panel discussion featuring Kiley Reid, The New York Times bestselling author and an assistant professor at the University of Michigan. “Such A Fun Age” was her debut novel and was longlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize. This exciting and engaging event will be open to the public, with more details forthcoming.
For additional details and a complete list of Gloucester Reads programs, book suggestions and learning resources on racial equity, visit SawyerFreeLibrary.org.
The SFL Romance Book Club, “Ladies Night In,” resumes on February 23rd at 5:30 p.m. at Sawyer Free Library @21 Main Street.
You won’t want to miss this meeting’s book, “Duchess If You Dare” by Anabelle Bryant. Copies of the novel are available now at the Library to check out.
Join us for LADIES NIGHT IN: The Holiday Edition on Thursday, December 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the Sawyer Free Library at 21 Main Street in downtown Gloucester.
The Sawyer Free Libraryis creating a Romance Book Club and the first book we are reading is The Great Christmas Knit-Off by Alexandra Brown. The fun festive evening will be complete with cocoa, cookies, a holiday book discussion and perhaps a few knitting projects.
Those interested should register HERE and come by SFL@21 Main Street to pick up a copy of the book!
For more information or if you have questions, visit SawyerFreeLibrary.org or call 978-325-5501.
Page2Stage gives participants opportunities to deepen and expand their experience as audience members through pre-show facilitated discussions about each play’s subject and related content, including biographies, novels, and timely periodicals.
The four selected literary works for this season’s Page2Stage series are available now at the Sawyer Free Library located at 2 Dale Avenue in Gloucester.
The program begins on Thursday, June 17 at 5:45 pm, discussing Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by New York Times best-selling author Cheryl Strayed, before Gloucester Stage’s production of Tiny Beautiful Things at 7:30pm.
On Thursday, August 12, the Book Club will discuss Anthony Bourdain’s memoir, Medium Raw, then will enjoy the regional premier of the play, Seared.
To bring the summer series to a close on Thursday, September 9, the group will discuss an article from The Atlantic, “The Case for Reparations”by Ta-Nehesi Coates prior to seeing the New England premiere of Reparations, a poignant new play by James Sheldon where personal revelations lead to laughs, tears, and coming to terms with racial injustice and personal betrayal.
This year with Page2Stage Book Club, discussions will happen before the show at Windhover Performing Art Center located at 257R Granite Street in Rockport.
The book group is free to join with discount theater tickets for registered members. There is no charge to participate in the group, but registration is required. Register for one or more groups at www.sawyerfreelibrary.org. Discounted show tickets of $25 will be available to participants by calling the Gloucester Stage Box Office 978 281-4433.
Cape Ann Community 