Please join librarians from Coffey Library and the Oak Ridge Public Library for a discussion of the book When We Were Strangers by local author Pamela Schoenewaldt. The discussion will be held on Wednesday, March 14th at 4:00 pm in Coffey Library on the Oak Ridge Campus. Everyone is welcome!
Book Overview: "If you leave Opi, you'll die with strangers," Irma Vitale's mother always warned. Even after her beloved mother's passing, 20-year-old Irma longs to stay in her Abruzzo mountain village, plying her needle. But too poor and plain to marry and subject to growing danger in her own home, she risks rough passage to America and workhouse servitude to achieve her dream of making dresses for gentlewomen.
In the raw immigrant quarters and with the help of an entrepreneurial Irish serving girl, ribbon-decked Polish ragman and austere Alsatian dressmaker, Irma begins to stitch together a new life…until her peace and self are shattered in the charred remains of the Great Chicago Fire. Enduring a painful recovery, Irma reaches deep within to find that she has even more to offer the world than her remarkable ability with a needle and thread. (from Barnes&Noble.com)
Other related events:
• On Thursday March 15th at 3:00 pm, a reception and program with the author will be held in the Oak Ridge Public Library Auditorium. Tickets are $5 and available at the Oak Ridge Public Library.
• Also on Thursday, March 15th, the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary and Altrusa International will have their Tribute to Literacy Lunch at 11:30am in the Oak Ridge High School lobby/food court. Tickets are $40 and are available at The Ferrell Shop, Mr. K's Used Books & Cds and Expressions Salon.