Events planned for Wayne County Reads
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on February 18, 2007 2:05 AM
Wayne County Reads will host free events for all ages over the coming week -- from a movie and book discussion to an award-winning comedienne and storyteller coming to town.
This year's choice, "Walking Across Egypt" by Clyde Edgerton, has prompted light-hearted programs in keeping with the Southern references woven throughout the book. It has also prompted two affiliated projects -- an essay contest and a local cookbook.
The film based on the book will be shown today at 1:30 p.m. in the Gertrude Weil Auditoriuim at Wayne County Public Library. The Rev. Bill Brettman, who serves as chairman of the Arts and Humanities Department at Wayne Community College, will add commentary to the 110-minute movie, which stars Ellen Burstyn, Gail O'Grady, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Judge Reinhold and Kevin Pollack.
There will be a discussion of the book Monday evening, when Mount Olive College plays host to a program led by Dorothy Whitley, associate professor. It begins at 7 p.m. in the Hennessee Room of the Lois Murphy Center.
High Point-based humorist Kelly Swanson will be featured in two programs at the library this coming weekend.
Adults are invited to join Ms. Swanson Friday evening at 7 p.m. as she brings some wacky southern relatives to life. The title of her presentation is, "Mamma and the Prom, Daddy's Talking Fish ... and Other Reasons I Need Therapy."
Saturday morning's topic is just as intriguing. Although designed for children, organizers said adults might have just as much fun.
Entitled "You Can't Put Lipstick on a Chicken," Ms. Swanson is expected to share why Booker tried to put lipstick on a chicken, why cousin Hambone won't eat squash, Tater can't wear turtlenecks, and other hard-earned lessons from the knee-high population of her southern town. It starts at 10 a.m. in the library auditorium. Free tickets are available in the children's department and are required for admission to Saturday's program.
Wayne County Courthouse will be the site for a program on Monday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. in Courtroom 1. Harry Watson, director of the Center for the Study of the American South at UNC-Chapel Hill, will be speaking about Southern culture as it is represented in "Walking Across Egypt."
Meanwhile, organizers of Wayne County Reads are still collecting submissions for an essay contest and a cookbook that will be published at the conclusion of this year's event.
The "I Believe" essay contest is open to adults as well as youths. Those over 18 years old are asked to write a first-personal singular statement of their beliefs, using positive examples from their own lives.
Writers younger than 18 will explain the main character Mattie's primary belief, writing in her voice, or alternately using the teen character, Wesley's beliefs and what those will become under Mattie's influence.
There is a 350 word limit and all entries must include a cover page with name, address, phone number and title of essay.
Entries will be accepted at the library until Friday. Winning essays, selected by the Goldsboro Writers Group, will be read on WGBR radio and at the Wayne County Reads finale event March 5.
Area residents can submit favorite recipes and the memories they conjure up, for inclusion in a commemorative cookbook. Submissions must be printed or typed, along with name, address and phone number and taken or sent to the Wayne Community College library. The address is Wayne County Reads Recipes, c/o Wayne Community College Library, P.O. Box 8002, Goldsboro, NC 27533-8002, or e-mail to wcc-library@waynecc.edu.