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History Reads Book Club Join us as we explore the richness of Illinois' history and its people! This book club, offered in partnership with the McLean County Museum of History, will focus on books about Illinois history. Titles may include fiction, nonfiction, biographies, and books by Illinois authors. History Reads meets quarterly in February, May, August, and November. Meetings are at 7pm and are held at the Bloomington Public Library in the Conference Room (unless otherwise noted). New participants are welcome at any time! To reserve a print copy of the next title to be discussed, contact the Help Desk by phone at 309.590.6168 or by email to reference@bloomingtonlibrary.org. Digital copies of each title (eBook or eAudiobook) may also be available through the Libby or Hoopla Apps. Visit our events calendar to register.
You may also register by calling 309.590.6168 or by visiting us in person at the library. |
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Join us for Book Ends on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at 7pm
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February 6 Joint Discussion with True Crime Book Club! Held at BPL in the Community Room 2 and also online via Zoom |
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Mary Jane's Ghost: The Legacy of a Murder in Small Town America by Ted Gregory"Summer 1948. In the scenic, remote river town of Oregon, Illinois, a young couple visiting the local lovers' lane is murdered. The shocking crime garners headlines from Portland, Maine, to Long Beach, California. But after a sweeping manhunt, no one is arrested and the violent deaths of Mary Jane Reed and Stanley Skridla fade into time's indifference. Fast forward fifty years. Eccentric entrepreneur Michael Arians moves to Oregon, opens a roadhouse, gets elected mayor, and becomes obsessed with the crime. He comes up with a scandalous conspiracy theory and starts to believe that Mary Jane's ghost is haunting his establishment. He also reaches out to the Chicago Tribune for help. Arians's letter falls on the desk of general assignment reporter Ted Gregory. For the next thirteen years, while he ricochets from story to story and his newspaper is deconstructed around him, Gregory remains beguiled by the case of the teenaged telephone operator Mary Jane and twenty-eight-year-old Navy vet Stanley--and equally fascinated by Arians's seemingly hopeless pursuit of whoever murdered them. Mary Jane's Ghost is the story of these two odysseys" Online participants click HERE to register! |
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May 7 Held at BPL in the Conference Room and also online via Zoom |
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The Woman They Could Not Silence: The Shocking Story of a Woman Who Dared to Fight Back by Kate MooreElizabeth Packard was committed to the Illinois State Hospital by her cruel husband in the mid-19th century. She found herself trapped in an unjust world, silenced by a society that deemed her opinions and intellect unworthy. Braving the confines of an oppressive mental asylum, Elizabeth defied all odds as she fought for her freedom and the rights of countless other women confined against their will. With relentless determination, she became a voice that resonated across the nation, igniting a movement for change.
The Woman They Could Not Silence is a triumphant tale of resilience, challenging the status quo, and the enduring power of the human spirit. Moore's meticulous research and rich historical detail bring Elizabeth Packard's story to life, painting a vivid portrait of a woman who defied society's expectations and paved the way for future generations. Online participants click HERE to register! |
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August 6 Held at BPL in the Conference Room and also online via Zoom |
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Cahokia: Ancient America's Great City on the Mississippi by Timothy R. PauketatAlmost a thousand years ago, a Native American city flourished along the Mississippi River near what is now St. Louis. Cahokia was a thriving metropolis at its height with a population of twenty thousand, a sprawling central plaza, and scores of spectacular earthen mounds. The city gave rise to a new culture that spread across the plains; yet by 1400 it had been abandoned, leaving only the giant mounds as monuments and traces of its influence in tribes we know today.
In Cahokia, anthropologist Timothy R. Pauketat reveals the story of the city and its people as uncovered by the dramatic digs of American corn-belt archaeologists. These excavations have revealed evidence of a powerful society, including complex celestial timepieces, the remains of feasts big enough to feed thousands, and disturbing signs of large-scale human sacrifice.
Drawing on these pioneering digs and a wealth of analysis by historians and archaeologists, Pauketat provides a comprehensive picture of what's been discovered about Cahokia and how these findings have challenged our perceptions of Native Americans. Cahokia is a lively read and a compelling narrative of prehistoric America. Online participants click HERE to register! |
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November 6 (Wednesday) Held at BPL in the Conference Room or online |
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Tinder Box: The Iroquois Theatre Disaster, 1903 by Anthony P. HatchThe Iroquois Theater in Chicago, boasting every modern convenience, advertised itself proudly as “absolutely fireproof” when it opened in November, 1903. Mr. Bluebeard, a fairy tale musical imported from the Drury Lane Theatre in London was the opening production. And leading the troupe of nearly 400 was one of the most popular comedians of the time, Eddie Foy.
None of the many socialites and journalists who flocked to the shows were aware that city building inspectors and others had been bribed to certify that the theater was in good shape. In fact, the building was without a sprinkler system or even basic fire fighting equipment; there was no backstage telephone, fire alarm box, exit signs, a real asbestos curtain or ushers trained for emergencies.
A month later, at a Christmas week matinee, the theater was illegally overcrowded with a standing room only crowd of mostly women and children. During the second act, a short circuit exploded a back stage spotlight touching off a small fire which spread in minutes throughout the theater. Panic set in as people clawed at each other to get out, but they could not find the exits, which were draped. The doorways, locked against gate-crashers, were designed to open in instead of out, creating almost impossible egress.
The tragedy, which claimed more than 600 lives, became a massive scandal and it remains the worst theater fire in the history of the country. Online participants click HERE to register! |
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Join us for Book Ends on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 7pm
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