Good Reading

Jewish literature events to be held at
Birmingham and Farmington libraries.

S1-1
1 ARW70.2ter
N
. LU C KERMAN
Staff

F

orget about grades. Don't
worry about writing papers.
But come ready to study and
discuss a selection of classic and con-
temporary Jewish novels — from
Sholem Aleichem and Saul Bellow to
Allegra Goodman.
Thanks to an American Library
Association (ALA)
grant, two local pub-
lic libraries, the
Baldwin Public
Library of
Birmingham and
Farmington
Community Library,
are among the 200
Polk
libraries nationwide
that received a $1,500 grant to host
"Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature
— Identity and Imagination," a five-
part reading and discussion series set
for January through April 2005.
The Prentis Memorial Library of
Temple Beth El is co-hosting the pro-
gram at the Baldwin Library at 7
p.m. for five Wednesdays from
January through March. A docent-led
tour of Temple Beth El at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 9, also will be
part of the program.
The Farmington Library program
begins Monday, May 23, said librari-
an Annette Weiss.
Local scholar Dr. Ross Pudaloff of
Wayne State University in Detroit
will lead discussions at the Baldwin
Library series on the Jewish issue,
"Between Two Worlds: Stories of
Estrangement and Homecoming."
The ALA developed the 20-year-old
"Let's Talk About It" series on Jewish
and non-Jewish subjects. This series is
co-sponsored by Nextbook, an organ-
ization that promotes Jewish litera-
ture and culture.
"The program is to promote cultur-
al understanding," says Eileen Polk,
Temple Beth El Librarian.
Its an opportunity to expand your
literary horizons," says Anne Berg,
adult services librarian at the Baldwin
Library. "The literary program is a
chance for people to expose them-
selves to another culture and discover
the best in classic and contemporary

Jewish literature."
Of the four Jewish themes libraries
can choose from for the series, the
Baldwin Library chose "Estrangement
and Homecoming." The books and
discussion dates include:
• Jan. 12: Lost in Translation by
Eva Hoffman
• Feb. 2: Mr. Sammler's Planet by
Saul Bellow
• Feb. 23: Out of Egypt by Andre
Aciman
• March 16: The Centaur in the
Garden by Moacyr Scliar
• April 6: Kaaterskill Falls Allegra
Goodman
Participants do not have to sign up
for the program but can pick up a
folder of materials — and copies of
the books — at both libraries, Polk
says. She emphasizes that "people
should read the books and come pre-
pared to discuss them."
The Race Relations and Diversity
Task Force of Birmingham-
Bloomfield also is sponsoring
the series.
For further information, call Anne
Berg at the Baldwin Public Library at
(248) 554-4650.
The Farmington Community
Library's "Let's Talk About It series
on Jewish literature will be held on
Mondays (except Memorial Day,
when it will be held on Tuesday) the
last two weeks in May and the first
three weeks in June. Scholar Barry
Gross, a retired professor from
Michigan State University in Lansing,
will lead the discussions.
As part of this series, a feature film
related to the theme of the book will
be showed on each Thursday. The
films include Fiddler on the Roof
Yentl and Hester Street. The theme of
this series is "A Mind of Her Own:
Fathers and Daughters in a
Changing World."
The books include Tevye the
Dairyman and the Railroad Stories by
Sholem Aleichem, Bread Givers by
Anzia Yezierska, 1185 Park Avenue
Anne Roiphe, American Pastoral by
Philip Roth and Bee Season by
Myla Goldberg.
For further information, call
the Farmington Library at (248)
476-7074. LI

Heated Seats, Premium
Package, Leather Interior,
In-Dash CD Player, Moonroof

per month 36 months

Special Edition
Pebble Beach SC 430
3 Available for Immediate Delivery

*36 Mo/12k miles per year plus tax. $3890 dawn includes 1st payment, seeurity deposit waived plus title and license. Tier 1 Credit.

IS AN IDEA THAT EVERYONE EXPECTS, BUT NO DEALER

ACHIEVES. CONSIDER IT A NONISSUE AT LEXUS OF ANN ARBOR

AND LEXUS OF LANSING. OUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT WON'T

GIVE YOU POOR EXCUSES AS TO WHY THE JOB DIDN'T GETDONE.

BEST OF ALL,THIS QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE COMES AT A

VERY REASONABLE PRICE.

C:)1"

Ann FRIIRE3COIF2

590 Auto Mall Dr. • Ann Arbor

1.866.645.3987

Iexusofannarbor.com
lexusannarbor@usa.net

5701 Pennsylvania Ave • Lansing

1.800.539.8748

Iexusoflansing.com

12/24

2004

19

