Project promotes unity in reading

Michael Simmons wants to unite Bloomington residents. He isn't planning on using speeches, parades or persuasion. His weapon is the written word. Books, to be exact. \nSimmons is the chairman of the One Book One Bloomington steering committee, a group formed by the Bloomington Area Arts Council, which is in charge of using public voting to pick one book for Bloomington to read each year. This book is then incorporated into private book clubs or public forums, where IU professors share their expertise to shed light on issues in the book. \nThe project, in its fourth year, brings residents together for these forums, something that Simmons appreciates.\n"I think Bloomington certainly is unique," Simmons said. "One of the nice things about One Book One Bloomington is people come from all areas of the county, from different jobs, different neighborhoods."\nOne Book One Bloomington was formed to bring about more opportunities for the community to read, said Sally Gaskill, BAAC executive director.\n"We looked around at what we were doing here, and we wanted to beef up what we were offering in terms of writing and literary experiences," Gaskill said. \nAnother goal is to keep adults reading even after their formal education is over.\n"(The program) has a number of impacts on the community, and among those is getting people to read more," Simmons said. "We believe getting people to read is a valuable thing. I'm very interested in literature, and I'm very committed to fostering lifelong learning,"\nKathie Lazerwitz has certainly felt the program's benefits. After reading this year's book, "The Kite Runner," by Khaled Hosseini, she felt the unity of the public discussion she attended.\nThe book will be discussed throughout the year at different locations. The next scheduled discussion is at 7 p.m. at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 2813 E. Third St. March 29.\n"It brings a wonderful feeling that you have in this city," Lazerwitz said. "It's a togetherness. It's a very unique feeling. I'm looking forward to many more discussions." \nThat community feeling is something Gaskill wants to continue.\n"One of the reasons that we promote participation of the arts is to give people a sense that they're more a part of the community," Gaskill said. \nPublic discussions usually feature a facilitator who will give background on cultural or social issues surrounding the book, according to Gaskill. This is usually followed by a conversation among members of the audience with personal questions and interpretation. \n"They're very non-threatening. They're all about sharing perceptions," Gaskill said. \nSharing these interpretations is what Simmons takes away from the forums.\n"It can be a great source of insight. I always come away from the discussion with new ideas," Simmons said. \n-- Contact Staff Writer Catherine Hageman at chageman@indiana.edu.