photo by: Shawn Valverde

File photo of the Lawrence Public Library on Friday, July 26, 2024.

Through its Read Across Lawrence campaign, the Lawrence Public Library has chosen one “community read” that aims to encourage residents to read and come together to discuss key topics from the book.

Since 2005, the library has chosen books ranging from classics like “Dracula” and “To Kill a Mockingbird” to a selection from a local author with “The Center of Everything,” according to Polli Kenn, a readers’ services supervisor with the library.

This year, the library partnered with the University of Kansas and picked the same book for its Read Across Lawrence community read: John Green’s “The Anthropocene Reviewed.” Released in 2021, the book includes essays from Green in the form of reviews that discuss various human experiences — from the Lascaux Cave Paintings to Diet Dr Pepper — that are both “funny” and “poignant and thoughtful,” according to Kenn.

Kenn noted many people have gotten out of the habit of long form reading, in part because of the “propensity to be online and scroll” leading to attention spans becoming shorter. With the essay format, Kenn said that readers hoping to get back in the habit can choose to read a couple essays at a time, and take the “bite-sized pieces” of the book in a way that could otherwise seem overwhelming.

“It’s nice as a way to get back in,” Kenn said.

photo by: Contributed/Lawrence Public Library

Copies of John Green’s book The Anthropocene Reviewed. The Lawrence Public Library chose to name the book the community read as part of its Read Across Lawrence program.

Whether you’re wanting to get back to reading or are already a voracious reader, Kenn said she expected the essays, which are “all very different,” to resonate differently depending on the reader. As part of a wider conversation, Kenn said she hopes that the essays can serve as a discussion for readers about why certain stories may have stood out compared to other passages.

“A lot of (the essays) are introspective in how (Green) takes on the topics,” Kenn said. “I hope it encourages folks to do the same.”

Along with the announcement of the community read, the library announced several Read Across Lawrence events throughout the monthlong celebration. One event, called “The Anthropocene Reviewed: Kansas Edition,” will be Jan. 29 and feature a discussion about “Kansas Matters,” a collection of stories and poems about what it means to live in the Sunflower State in the modern era, Kenn said. The event, which coincides with Kansas Day, will also feature the editors of “Kansas Matters” — Thomas Fox Averill and Leslie VonHolten — who will host a discussion about how their collection of stories “mirror and relate” to Green’s book.

Kenn said the Read Across Lawrence series is very popular — noting that the Jan. 29 event is already full, and that happened “in about a day or two” since it was initially unveiled. She said the library is lucky to have a community so willing to connect and read, and she sees that willingness to connect with others as a theme in Green’s book as well.

Kenn said one of her main takeaways through the book is people should “pay attention to what you pay attention to.” Part of what she means by that is that life is short, so giving attention to the parts of life or places that “make them feel connected or seen” is crucial to getting through modern stressors. Kenn hopes the stories in the book can help inspire the community.

“I hope folks find something that speaks to them,” Kenn said.

For more information about the Read Across Lawrence happenings and links to register for certain events visit the library’s website.