We get so much from books, whether physical, electronic, or audio — entertainment, learning, empowerment, escape. But what if you could connect even more, talk to your book, ask it questions, or just sit back, relax, and hear it all from the lead character’s mouth?
At Bowen Island Public Library’s first Living Library event on Saturday, August 13th, you can do just that. In the vein of the Human Library Project and other interactive events popping up at libraries world-wide, from 2pm-5pm you can “check out” one or more of four human “books,” chosen for their captivating life stories, story-telling abilities, and long-time Bowen Islander statuses.
Our human “books” you can borrow are:
• London to Kathmandu by Bus in the Sixties (Because We Could): The Trip that Made me a Storytelling Adventurer.
• One of the Real Mad Men: My Lifetime in Marketing, Art, and Designing Expo 86
• Walking Through Fire: The Training, the Trauma, the Triumph — The Fascinating Career of a Female Fire Fighter
• Accidental Artist: An Unlikely Path through Civil Construction, Sobriety, Politics and Sculpture
It’s a must-attend event for new Bowen Islanders — meet a few of the living legends of Bowen, and, beyond their fascinating life stories, get their take on island life and issues, past and present. But if you’re a seasoned Bowen Islander and think you’ve heard it all, we promise these “books” have stories you didn’t know you didn’t know.
Walking Through Fire will tell you how she rose through the ranks in a highly gendered profession, all while commuting across municipalities and raising a family. With London to Kathmandu, learn what it’s like to make both Bowen and the whole globe “home.”
Branding is a big issue on Bowen these days. Check out One of the Real Mad Men to hear how the marketing industry has evolved over this book’s eclectic eighty years. If you’re lucky you’ll hear personal philosophies on art, development, and “what is Bowen culture” from this book, as well as from Accidental Artist, a former mayoral candidate with big ideas about Bowen.
We’re a community not just of opinions, but of artists, and three of our books can tell you about making a living from their fine crafts, which include film, painting, cartooning, (Mad Men) sculpting and found-object art (Accidental Artist), and writing/story-telling (London to Kathmandu).
Just remember to pre-register before the limited spaces fill up, by contacting us at (604) 947-9788 or [email protected]. Check-outs are for up to half an hour between 2-5pm, and for up to three adult readers or one family at a time listening to a book. There’s no limit on the number of books you’d like to hear though, so come spend an afternoon sharing in stories — and complimentary beverages and snacks — in this unique Bowen Island experience.
