Vote for next Galveston Reads book for 2010

It’s time to vote again! Since opening the final selection to the public went so well last year, Galveston Reads is pleased to announce the short list of candidates for the 2010 “One City, One Book” project. Voting for the 7th year of the community-wide book read is now open to the public. To cast a vote please email Karen Stanley at kstanley@rosenberg-library.org by April 24.

The Selection Committee started the selection process in early 2008. Even in the face of Ike and its associated problems, committee members continued reading and discussing possible books for 2010. At the beginning of 2009, the list was refined and narrowed and now there are three books for the public to choose from.

The nominations for 2010 are as follows:

“Rocket Boys” By Homer Hickam
A skillfully written memoir that captures the wonder of the early years of space exploration, this book reminds us of the mid-century wonder of seeing Sputnik in the night sky. In his honest rendering of his youth, the author evokes the universal angst of being a teenager while showing that anyone can rise above their circumstances. Brought to the screen as “October Sky”, the novel is far richer and contains many more details about his life and times.

Set in the early 60’s in a poor mining town in West Virginia, “Rocket Boys” details how Homer was inspired to start his own rocket-building club with his friends and how that group wound up winning a National Science Fair award. Initially, only his friends and his mother believe in him; by the end of the book, the whole town is cheering him on. This uplifting story reminds us to keep dreaming and keep striving towards your own personal goals, no matter what obstacles may occur. The economic setting should ring true with many readers as the mining town struggles to survive, and the close proximity of N.A.S.A. to our island strengthens its relevancy to us here on Galveston Island.


“The Hungry Tide” By Amitav Ghosh
This novel is a fairly contemporary story of adventure and unlikely love, identity and history, set in one of the most fascinating regions on earth: the immense labyrinth of tiny islands known as the Sundarbans, an area between India and Bangladesh. Published in 2005, the book is told from the perspective of its two main characters, Kanai Dutt, a Delhi businessman, and Piya Roy, an American scientist of Indian descent who has come to study the rare Irrawaddy dolphin which lives in the rivers of the tide country.
Life is precarious with attacks by deadly tigers common. Unrest and eviction are constant threats for the inhabitants, and without warning, at any time, tidal floods rise and surge over the land. In this land of vengeful beauty, the lives of three people from different worlds collide. Compared to Galveston, with Hurricane Ike leaving devastation in its wake, this book offers insight to the commonalities for all inhabitants by the sea, regardless of where one is located.”The Hungry Tide” is a powerful and irresistible book about ordinary people bound together in an exotic place where devastation can occur with the ebb and flow of the tide. Does this sound similar to those of us here in Galveston? The basest of human emotions, love, jealousy, pride, and trust, make the difference for the characters in this story. Perhaps it’s a lesson that readers can share as they follow Piya, Kanai, and Fokir into the heart of tide country, the Sundarbans. Choose this title for the 2010 Galveston Reads book for a compelling read.

“The Septembers of Shiraz”, By Dalia Sofer
This is an incredible debut novel by Dalia Sofer where characters come alive and the reader is anxious to know what happens next. Imagine living a very comfortable, even luxurious life. How much of that would you be willing to sacrifice? This story of a prosperous Jewish family living in Tehran shortly after the Iranian Revolution gives us a glimpse of a particular family in a time period we’ve heard about in the news but know little. The author orchestrates the drama beautifully with the written word and family dynamics are shown by the author’s alternating of chapters giving each member a chance to tell his/her own story. The power of good literature is that it transcends our differences and shows us commonality of human experiences. Will readers be able to see any connections or experience any changes of attitude as this engaging book is being read?

Galveston Reads is a volunteer organization that encourages participation at all levels. To serve on a committee or cast your vote, contact Karen Stanley at kstanley@rosenberg-library.org or call 409-4763-8854. Remember that the vote will end on April 24th. All books are available at the Rosenberg Library, as well as local and online booksellers.


Happy Reading!