Book and a Movie kicks off series on books made into movies

MARFA – Ballroom Marfa and Marfa Public Library are proud to present a new reading program, Book and a Movie, focusing on novels that have been adapted into films.

They will kick off the series with Never Let Me Go a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro and film directed by Mark Romanek. Copies of the book will be provided free of charge to everyone who registers for the program, generously donated by the Friends of the Marfa Public Library.

This program is also supported by PEARL, whose mission is to strengthen the public library as an essential part of community life in rural Texas communities.

Never Let Me Go is a dystopian science fiction novel by Japanese-born British author Kazuo Ishiguro. It was shortlisted for the 2005 Booker Prize (an award Ishiguro had previously won in 1989 for The Remains of the Day).

The main characters Ruth, Kathy and Tommy spend their childhood at a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. The children there were tenderly sheltered from the outside world, brought up to believe they were special, and that their personal welfare was crucial. But for what reason were they really there?

It is only years later that Kathy, now aged 31, finally allows herself to yield to the pull of memory. What unfolds is the haunting story of how Kathy, Ruth and Tommy slowly come to face the truth about their seemingly happy childhoods – and about their futures.

Never Let Me Go is uniquely moving novel and film, charged throughout with a sense of the fragility of our lives.

To register for Book and a Move and receive a free copy of Never Let Me Go, please sign up by Friday, July 13, 2012 by visiting the Library, calling 432.729.4631, or emailing bookandamovie@ballroommarfa.org.

Copies of the novel Never Let Me Go will be available for pick up at the Marfa Public Library or Ballroom Marfa beginning on Friday, July 20, 2012.

The discussion about the book will be held at 6:30pm on Tuesday, August 7 at Marfa Public Library. The film screening followed by a discussion will be held at 6:30pm on Thursday, August 9 at Marfa Public Library. Panelists Elizabeth Redding, Dirk Vaughn and Library Director Renee Mick will lead both sessions.

Light refreshments will be served and a gift certificate to a local restaurant will be awarded as a door prize.

Support for Book and a Movie was provided by PEARL and Friends of the Marfa Public Library. Special thanks to Elizabeth Redding, Dirk Vaughn, Tim Johnson of Marfa Book Company, Marfa Public Radio and The Big Bend Sentinel.