National Endowment of the Arts - The Big Read

Chattahoochee Valley Libraries

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3000 Macon Road
Columbus, GA 31906

Tel: 706/243-2669
Fax: 706/243-2710
http://www.cvlga.org

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The Things They Carried
Tim O'Brien

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Events

The Big Read Kick-off - The American Place Theatre Literature to Life Stage Presentation of "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien.

Our The Big Read celebration of Tim O’Brien’s "The Things They Carried" kicks off with this touring solo performance adaptation of the novel, produced by the acclaimed American Place Theatre. The play, developed in cooperation with author O’Brien, brings five of the stories from the book to vivid life, giving witness to the complex issues of war and the universal struggle of the soldier.

Event Location: Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31906

Date: Fri, Mar 1, 2013
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Book: The Things They Carried

The Big Read Film Festival: "The Quiet American" (2002, Rated R)

Our The Big Read Film Festival highlights four different periods and four different viewpoints of the Vietnam conflict. From the novel by Graham Greene comes this murder mystery centered on a love triangle set against the French Indochina War in Vietnam, circa 1952. Intrigue and moral culpability grow to infect both individuals and governments as the United States slowly insinuates itself into the regions political situation. Starring Michael Caine and Brendan Fraser. Rated R for violence, profanity and sexual situations.

Event Location: Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31906

Date: Tue, Mar 5, 2013
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Book: The Things They Carried

Tim O'Brien's Autobiographical Metafiction in "The Things They Carried"

Join us for this enlightening conversation about why so many consider "The Things They Carried" to be “great” literature and art. The presentation will be led by Dr. Aaron Sanders, Assistant Professor of English at Columbus State University.

Event Location: Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31906

Date: Thu, Mar 7, 2013
Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Book: The Things They Carried

Page Turners Book Club - "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien

The Page Turners invite you to a discussion of Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried.

Event Location: Mildred L. Terry Public Library, 640 Veterans Parkway, Columbus, GA 31904

Date: Sat, Mar 9, 2013
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Book: The Things They Carried

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Psychological Effects of War

While Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a widely discussed syndrome suffered by those in combat situations, it is still misunderstood by the public at large. "The Things They Carried" presents how that disorder restructures the lives of those that suffer from it, as well as those close to the sufferer. This presentation by Ms. Janice Lundeen from the Martin Army Hospital will give us careful insight into the causes and treatments that are experienced by today’s combat veterans.

Event Location: Schwob Library, Columbus State University, 4225 University Avenue, Columbus, GA 31907

Date: Tue, Mar 12, 2013
Time: 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Book: The Things They Carried

The Big Read Film Festival - "We Were Soldiers" (2002, Rated R)

Our The Big Read Film Festival highlights four different periods and four different viewpoints of the Vietnam conflict. Based on the best-selling book "We Were Soldiers Once… and Young" by Lt. General Harold Moore and Joseph Galloway, this picture depicts the true story of the first major battle between the United States and North Vietnamese forces. It ably showcases the uncommon valor and sacrifice of forces in combat and their families at home. Many scenes were filmed in Columbus and at Ft. Benning. Starring Mel Gibson, Sam Elliot and Madeleine Stowe. Rated R for violence and profanity.

Event Location: Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31906

Date: Tue, Mar 12, 2013
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Book: The Things They Carried

Ft. Benning Book Discussion

The Ft. Benning Libraries host this public discussion of Tim O’Brien’s "The Things They Carried."

Event Location: MCofE Donovan Research Library, 7533 Holtz Street, Building 70, suite 1025, Ft. Benning, GA 31905

Date: Wed, Mar 13, 2013
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Book: The Things They Carried

Random Thoughts Book Club - "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien

The Random Thoughts Book Club invites you to a discussion of Tim O’Brien’s "The Things They Carried."

Event Location: North Columbus Public Library, 5689 Armour Road, Columbus, GA 31909

Date: Sat, Mar 16, 2013
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Book: The Things They Carried

The Big Read Film Festival - "Full Metal Jacket" (1987, Rated R)

Our The Big Read Film Festival highlights four different periods and four different viewpoints of the Vietnam conflict. This widely acclaimed, highly polarizing film from auteur Stanley Kubrick presents the absurdity and futility of war in which soldiers must sacrifice all vestiges of their humanity to succeed at their mission. Set against basic training and the battle of Hue in 1968, the movie utilizes the director’s idiosyncratic style in presenting its “War Is Hell” message. Starring Matthew Modine and, in a legendary star-making performance, R. Lee Ermey as the basic training drill sergeant. Rated R for violence and extremely graphic language.

Event Location: Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31906

Date: Tue, Mar 19, 2013
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Book: The Things They Carried

Scrapbook Memories

Teens, come make your own memories. You bring the photos, ticket stubs, and notes on napkins and we’ll show you how to create a quick and easy scrapbook to store them all in.

Event Location: South Columbus Public Library, 2034 South Lumpkin Road, Columbus, GA 31903

Date: Wed, Mar 20, 2013
Time: 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Book: The Things They Carried

Tim O’Brien’s War: "The Things They Carried" as History

This presentation will give us an overview of the Vietnam conflict and will provide an historical basis from which to read and analyze "The Things They Carried." The presentation and discussion will be led by Dr. Gary Sprayberry, Department Chair and Associate Professor of History and Geography at Columbus State University.

Event Location: Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31906

Date: Thu, Mar 21, 2013
Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Book: The Things They Carried

The Big Read: Digital Storytelling

Participate in our teen digital storytelling challenge in celebration of this year’s The Big Read title, "The Things They Carried" by Tim O’Brien. During this session we will show you some tips and tricks on storyboards, voiceover, and video.

Event Location: Columbus Public Library, Rothschild Technology Room, 3000 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31906

Date: Tue, Mar 26, 2013
Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Book: The Things They Carried

The Big Read Film Festival - "The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara" (2003, Rated PG-13)

Our The Big Read Film Festival highlights four different periods and four different viewpoints of the Vietnam conflict. Our final film is the Academy Award-winning documentary "The Fog of War." Directed by Errol Morris, this deceptively simple film is a series of “lessons” presented in conversation style by Robert S. McNamara, the U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1961 to 1968 who was intimately involved with the decisions to escalate our country’s involvement in Vietnam. It is a troubling, deeply affecting look by one intelligent man at his (and his generation’s) choices, and how those decisions impacted the lives of millions of others. Rated PG-13 for images and thematic issues of war and destruction.

Event Location: Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31906

Date: Tue, Mar 26, 2013
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Book: The Things They Carried

Authors Kevin Wilson and Madge McKeithen

The Big Read, in cooperation with the Southern Literary Festival, is pleased to present authors Kevin Wilson ("The Family Fang") and Madge McKeithen ("Blue Peninsula").

Event Location: Studio Theatre, Riverside Theatre Complex, 6 W. 10th Street, Columbus, GA 31901

Date: Thu, Mar 28, 2013
Time: 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Book: The Things They Carried

Open Mic Night - Southern Literary Festival

The public is invited to join with Southern Literary Festival participants in an outdoor open mic performance session. Bring your favorite poem or essay and speak up!

Event Location: Uptown Columbus Center Stage, Broadway and Eleventh Street, Columbus, GA 31901

Date: Thu, Mar 28, 2013
Time: 9:00pm – 11:00pm
Book: The Things They Carried

Author Tim O'Brien

We are honored to present our The Big Read author Tim O’Brien for this very special appearance. An infantry soldier and Purple Heart recipient in the Vietnam War, much of his fiction involves the lives of soldiers before, during and after that period. His 1978 novel "Going After Cacciato", set in Vietnam, won the National Book Award for fiction. Our The Big Read selection, "The Things They Carried", was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award and received France’s Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger. His 1994 novel "In the Lake of the Woods" was awarded the James Fennimore Cooper Prize from the Society of American Historians and was named best novel of the year by Time magazine. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to meet one of American’s great authors and storytellers.

Event Location: Springer Opera House, 1011 10th Street, Columbus, GA 31901

Date: Fri, Mar 29, 2013
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Book: The Things They Carried

U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Tretheway and poet Dan Albergotti

U. S. Poet Laureate Natasha Tretheway joins poet Dan Albergotti for a discussion and reading. A public Q+A session will begin at 10:00am, with readings at 11:00am.

Event Location: Studio Theatre, Riverside Theatre Complex, 6 W. 10th Street, Columbus, GA 31901

Date: Sat, Mar 30, 2013
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Book: The Things They Carried

Opening Service - The Wall That Heals

The visit of The Wall That Heals will begin with a memorial service commemorating those whose names are enshrined upon the wall. The ceremony is open to the public.

Event Location: Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31906

Date: Thu, Apr 4, 2013
Time: 9:00am – 10:00am
Book: The Things They Carried

The Wall That Heals - Touring Replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Our The Big Read celebration of Tim O’Brien’s "The Things They Carried" concludes with a visit by The Wall That Heals, the stunning half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D. C. This moving tribute to the service men and women who gave their lives while serving their country in the Vietnam conflict will be in Columbus for four days. Also on site will be a touring mini-museum that displays information about some of the service members memorialized on The Wall, along with an information center where visitors can find the location of names.

Event Location: Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31906

Date: Thu, Apr 4, 2013 – Sun, Apr 7, 2013
Book: The Things They Carried



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