Book Review - True Grit (Brunswick's Big Read 2014)

True Grit is THE BIG READ for 2014

by Charles Portis

In the years following the Civil War, the American West, specifically Fort Smith, Arkansas, was a place of savagery and chaos. Hangings were public. Beyond Fort Smith was the expansive Indian Territory where those who wanted to avoid the law did so with little effort. Growing up came quickly, brutally and without sentimentality. 

The 3 major characters of True Grit were part of that environment. First, we meet Mattie Ross, age 14, of Dardanelle, Arkansas.  Mattie leaves her home to go to Fort Smith with the mission of finding Roger Chaney who shot her unarmed father. Mattie hires Rooster Cogburn to apprehend Chaney. Her plan is complicated by the appearance of Texan LeBoeuf who is also tracking Chaney for a shooting involving a judge. Cogburn and LeBewoulf finally accept Mattie’s determination to find Roger Chaney. Together, this unlikely trio, enter the Indian Territory where true grit is survival. 

It is the tension between Mattie, a supremely confident teen-ager, and the older, male characters which provides humor in the book. Mattie is naive but smart enough to realize she needs the experience and true grit found in Rooster Cogburn. Her straight forward no-nonsense talk leaves no doubt of her intentions or her feelings. Both male characters must deal with this fearless and focused young whippersnapper who reminds them more than once who she is and from where she comes.

There is a reason True Grit was on the New York Times best seller list for 22 weeks. It is part history, part coming-of-age, and part comedy. It is just good reading.

Last Minute Addition - Big Read Event in Darien!

Author Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon defined detective fiction, and Sam Spade epitomized the hard-boiled private detective character. Please join us for a casual, interactive discussion of this classic entertaining and highly influential 1930 novel.

Thursday, March 1
5:30-6:30PM
In the Ladies’ Library at Ashantilly Center15591 GA Hwy 99, Darien
This program is part of the The Big Read: Coastal Georgia Reads The Maltese Falcon

An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest and sponsored locally by Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association, The Three Rivers Regional Library System, and the College of Coastal Georgia. Additional partners include McIntosh Art Association, Arts Camden, The Brunswick News and Qantum Communications.

Women of Mystery - A Big Read Event!

The Maltese Falcon defined detective fiction, and Sam Spade epitomized the hard-boiled private detective character. What has historically been a male-dominated genre is not anymore. Female authors have brought us female versions of the private detective, as well as characters that solve crimes while doing their jobs as police investigators, lawyers, park rangers, medical examiners, and housewives.

At the Women of Mystery discussions, participants are asked to come to casually discuss favorite female detectives in fiction: how are they similar to each other and how are they different? And, how do they stack up to their male counterparts?

So, come tell the group about your favorite female investigator and listen to what others think about women of mystery.  Not yet a fan of female detective fiction? That’s okay, come anyway, and maybe you’ll be inspired to give the women a shot.

Discussions led by Ann Mason.

Wednesday, February 22, 11am

at Hattie’s Books

This program is part of the The Big Read: Coastal Georgia Reads The Maltese Falcon

An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest and sponsored locally by Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association, The Three Rivers Regional Library System, and the College of Coastal Georgia.  Additional partners include McIntosh Art Association, Arts Camden, The Brunswick News and Qantum Communications.

The Big Read - Some Great Links & Resources

If you are like me, you look forward each year to The Big Read selection. There is something magical about the people in a community reading the same book. The sense of connection is really remarkable. Plus, there is all the great stuff that goes along with it. Movies, lectures, discussions, exibits... so many resources (almost all FREE!) to enhance the experience. This year's choice is the 1930's hard-boiled dectective novel, The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett.

The Big Read , with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts is once again presented by through a partnership of the Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association, Three Rivers Regional Library System and the College of Coastal Georgia. The schedule of Big Read events at the GIAHA website is huge, and offers something for everyone!

Hattie's Third Tuesday book club read The Maltese Falcon for our January selection. Mary Farnsworth, who led a really good discussion shared information from a fabulous website. If you are reading The Maltese Falcon, you may be having some trouble with the slang. Well, fret no longer about the meaning of the "gooseberry lay" or a "Baumes rush". Twists, Slug and Roscoes is here to turn all that slang into plain English!

Are you joining in The Big Read? Let us know your plans!