Welcome to Write Away!
The writing forum for Project Read learners.

We've redesigned our blog so that adult learners working at Project Read can share what they have written with other learners, tutors, and the public. There are a few simple guidelines to be aware of.
  1. This is a moderated site, so submissions and comments will first be reviewed before being approved and published.
  2. Adult learners submitting their writing have the option of using their first name (only) or using "anonymous" for authorship.
  3. We wish to honor the writing efforts of the adult learner/authors, so no major copy editing will be applied, but we may suggest minor corrections in consultation with the author.
  4. Only active Project Read learners are eligible to submit their writing to the Write Away blog and there are two ways of doing this: send submissions via email to projectread@sfpl.org, or stop by the office with a hard copy of your writing.
  5. The views and opinions expressed on this web site are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not represent those of the San Francisco Public Library and/or the City and County of San Francisco.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Tutor-Learner Teams: Join the Wednesday Night Readers Book Club

This is the schedule of books being read and discussed over the next few months by Project Read's Wednesday Night Readers book club. Pick up your FREE books and audio books and make plans to attend one of these exciting and rewarding discussions. We make unabridged audio books available so that learners at any reading level can participate in the discussion. Adult learners do not have to finish the entire book to attend the meetings.

The Member of the Wedding, a play by Carson McCullers (books & audio books available February 26, discussed at March 25 meeting -- 118 pages)

Carson McCullers’ The Member of the Wedding is only one of two plays written by the author and by far the most successful. Adapted from her 1946 novel of the same name, this play depicts the interwoven lives of whites and blacks in the American South, and the poignant turmoil of adolescence. The March 25 meeting will feature a special performance by professional actors from the local Screen Actors Guild.

The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho (books & audio books available March 26, discussed at April 29 meeting -- 208 pages)

The charming tale of Santiago, a shepherd boy, who dreams of seeing the world, is compelling in its own right, but gains resonance through the many lessons Santiago learns during his adventures. He journeys from Spain to Morocco in search of worldly success, and eventually to Egypt, where a fateful encounter with an alchemist brings him at last to self-understanding and spiritual enlightenment. The story has the comic charm, dramatic tension and psychological intensity of a fairy tale, but it's full of specific wisdom as well, about becoming self-empowered, overcoming depression, and believing in dreams. The cumulative effect is like hearing a wonderful bedtime story from an inspirational psychiatrist.

Sounder by William H. Armstrong (books & audio books available April 30, discussed at May 27 meeting -- 126 pages)

Winner of the 1970 Newbery Medal and the basis of an acclaimed film, Sounder traces the keen sorrow and the abiding faith of a poor African-American boy in the 19th-century South. The boy's father is a sharecropper, struggling to feed his family in hard times. Night after night, he and his great coon dog, Sounder, return to the cabin empty-handed. Then, one morning, almost like a miracle, a sweet-smelling ham is cooking in the family's kitchen. At last the family will have a good meal. But that night, an angry sheriff and his deputies come, and the boy's life will never be the same.

Angels of Morgan Hill by Donna VanLiere (books & audio books available May 28, discussed at June 24 meeting - 290 pages)

In 1947, there aren't any black families in the town of Morgan Hill, TN, until the Turners arrive to help on a tobacco farm. Nine-year-old Jane Gable first sees young Milo Turner when she is on the way home from her abusive father's funeral. Although the impression is vivid, she has no idea how closely their lives will become entangled. Jane's memories capture a child's-eye view of the confusing adult world.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (books & audio books available June 24, discussed at July 29 meeting -- 107 pages)

The tragic story of the complex bond between two migrant laborers in Central California. They are George Milton and Lennie Small, itinerant ranch hands who dream of one day owning a small farm. George acts as a father figure to Lennie, who is a very large, simpleminded man, calming him and helping to reign in his immense physical strength.

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Project Read Honored with National Award


On February 4, we heard the news that Project Read will receive the 2009 Advancement of Literacy Award presented by the Public Library Association and Library Journal.

Here is a brief description of the award from the
Public Library Association website:

Advancement of Literacy Award
honors a publisher, bookseller, hardware and/or software dealer, foundation or similar group (i.e., not an individual) that has made a significant contribution to the advancement of adult literacy. A plaque is awarded annually at the ALA Annual Conference. Established in 1984. Sponsored by Library Journal.

Some of the previous recipients have included: Verizon Foundation, The Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, The Bell Atlantic Foundation, READ San Diego, New Readers Press, and Michigan Literacy, Inc.

We look forward to traveling to Chicago this July to accept this important award at the American Library Association's annual conference.

Thanks to the San Francisco Public Library, our incredible volunteer tutors, and courageous adult learners for helping Project Read to be recognized and honored on a national level.