Toronto Public Library Announces its One Book Selection for 2014

Story of hope, human resilience and artistic expression in times of conflict is an ideal pick for this year’'s city-wide book club

TORONTO, Feb. 7, 2014 /CNW/ -– The Cellist of Sarajevo, by Steven Galloway, has been chosen as Toronto Public Library'’s One Book community read for April 2014. The title was revealed at the annual Book Lover'’s Ball fundraiser in Toronto on February 6.

Steven Galloway'’s national bestseller, published by Vintage Canada, is based on a real incident. During the siege of Sarajevo in the 1990’'s, a cellist witnessed the death of 22 people in a breadline; as a tribute to them, he took his cello into the ruins and played Albinoni’'s Adagio every day for 22 days. The book is an eloquent testament to the power of art to console us during dark times.

The One Book program is part of the library’'s month-long literary festival, Keep Toronto Reading, which celebrates the joy of reading. The One Book program invites all Torontonians to read the same book and then come together to talk about it at events across the city.

Author Steven Galloway said he was honoured to have his book chosen, and praised the role of libraries in our civic life. “"Libraries are one of the places where a collective conversation takes place,"” he said, "“and that conversation is the fundamental building block of our civilization. Programs like One Book are an essential and innovative way of keeping this conversation going, and I’'m thrilled that a book of mine will have the role of catalyst.”"

One Book events include an opportunity to meet the author, as well as discussions about the book'’s themes. In an exciting collaboration with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra -– and to engage Torontonians in the story of the cellist -– the library will present 22 pop-up cello performances across the city. Dates and locations will be announced at keeptorontoreading.ca in the coming weeks.

The library'’s One Book program was launched in April 2008 with Michael Redhill'’s Consolation. Subsequent One Book titles included Loyalty Management by Glen Downie, More by Austin Clarke, Midnight at the Dragon Café by Judy Fong Bates, Girls Fall Down by Maggie Helwig and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.

Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, 19 million people visit our branches in neighbourhoods across the city and borrow 32 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131. To get the most current updates on what's happening at the library, follow us on Twitter @torontolibrary.

SOURCE: Toronto Public Library

Media Contact: Tina Srebotnjak, 416-393-7098, [email protected]