One Book, One Community

The 2006 One Book, One Community reading selection is Joseph Boyden’s novel, Three Day Road .

The goal of One Book is to have people read the same book. Now in its fifth year, over 35,000 people have participated in Waterloo Region's shared experience of reading.

“Once people have read the same book they talk to friends and neighbours and it spirals from there,” says Sharron Smith of Kitchener Public Library and chair of One Book, One Community.

The success of the program lies in the selection of a Canadian novel by a living author who is available for the “Meet the Author” events in all area municipalities in September. “Readers enjoy the opportunity to hear and see talented writers whose books are successful in Canada and around the world,” says Smith.

Libraries and bookstores in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and the townships have stocked up on extra copies of the novel to respond to the anticipated demand to participate in this community-wide reading program.