Deschutes Public Library

Posted By:  Lisa McGean

Date Posted:  4/2/2009

 The Deschutes Public Library is proud to announce the sixth annual “A Novel Idea…Read Together” selection, The Stubborn Twig, by Lauren Kessler.  This year, the Deschutes Public Library is partnering with other libraries around the state to celebrate the 150^th birthday of Oregon by reading and experiencing the same book at the same time.  Cultural events tied the book will start on April 4^th and end with a reading by Lauren Kessler at the Tower Theatre on April 25^th.

To fit in with the theme of this year’s book, The Stubborn Twig, the library’s monthly celebration of the written word, Second Sunday, will feature the Portland haiku poet Margaret Chula.  Margaret will start with a one-hour haiku-writing workshop at 2:00 p.m. in the Brooks Room, followed by a formal reading at 3:00 p.m., also in the Brooks Room.  Both events are free and open to the public, but registration is required for the workshop.  Please register for the workshop at www.dpls.us/cal or by calling Lisa McGean at 312-1034.

Margaret Chula started writing haiku while she was living in California in the early seventies.  She moved to Kyoto, Japan in 1980 and lived there for twelve years.  In Japan, she taught English at Kyoto Seika University and studied the brilliant R.H. Blythe’s translations of haiku.  Besides teaching at Kyoto Seika University, she also taught creative writing and haiku at Doshisha Women’s College.  Her haiku, Grinding My Ink, won the Haiku Society of America’s National Book Award in 1994 and her haiku, Shadow Lines won in 2000. She now makes her home in Portland, Oregon.

For more information about A Novel Idea/Oregon Reads or other library programs, please call 312-1034 or visit the library website at www.dpls.us.  People with disabilities needing accommodations should contact Lisa at 312-1034.