To Kill a Mockingbird
2014
First published in 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee was immediately successful, winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1961, and has become a beloved classic of modern American literature. The novel is loosely autobiographical, and centers on an event that occurred near the author's hometown in 1936, when she was 10 years old.
The most suggested title by our readership to date, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has been selected to commemorate the fifth year of the Virginia Yerxa Community Read. Each year, the VYCR highlights a different aspect of our community. This year, the Colusa legal community joined us in inviting readers to check out this year's selection.
EVENTS
April 11, 2014
"Hey, Boo"
7:00 - 9:00 pm Colusa Courthouse Annex
Fellow readers joined for a free screening of the documentary, “Hey, Boo," the story behind a great American novel. The movie was shown in the Colusa Courthouse Annex, 532 Oak Street.
Pacific Flyway Quilt Guild
The Pacific Flyway Quilters Guild participated in this year's Virginia Read by challenging its members to sew a quilt in honor of a favorite book. The quilts were on display in the window of Friends Around the Block, our local quilt shop, prior to and during Virginia Read Day, April 26, 2014. The Guild also raffled off a "courthouse steps" quilt made especially for Virginia Read Day.
Tequila Mockingbirds
Rocco's Bar and Grill at 546 Market Street, across from the Colusa County Courthouse, offered "Tequila Mockingbird" cocktails throughout the month of April in honor of this year's selection. Rocco's generously donated 25% of the proceeds from Tequila Mockingbirds to the VYCR.
Special Activities at CCAC
Throughout April, and especially on Virginia Read Day, the Colusa County Arts Council sponsored several activities at 613 Market Street, including student art, mosaics, origami and more--all related to this year's Virginia Read.
April 26, 2014
Virginia Read Day Events
1:00 - 2:00 pm--"The Courthouse Steps" at 547 Market Street
Several special events at 1:00 will kick off the 5th Virginia Read Day. Participants toured the Courthouse, viewed quilts on display, and enjoyed a special production of "To Kill a Mockingbird" by our local theater group, Stagehands.
2:00 - 3:30 pm--"Novel Perspectives" at 547 Market Street
Chico State University professors Matt Brown, Tracy Butts, and Aiping Zhang presented new ways of looking at this familiar classic. A question and answer session followed the presentation.
4:00 - 6:00 pm -- "Miss Maudie's Porch" at 735 Main Street
Participants attended a "Maycomb-style" social at 735 Main Street at 4:00 pm where there were displays, activities, and conversation related to To Kill a Mockingbird. Chico artist Cynthia Sexton showed paintings from her Floral Series. Former Colusan Bev Buist Dodge, who taught To Kill a Mockingbird to her high-school English classes in San Luis Obispo for thirty years, shared her 2009 experience of meeting Harper Lee in Monroeville, Alabama, Lee’s hometown and the setting of her only novel.
7:00 "To Kill a Mockingbird" movie
The day ended with a free screening of "To Kill a Mockingbird" starring Gregory Peck, who received the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1962 for his role as Atticus Finch. The movie was shown at the Colusa Movie Theater, located at 513 Market Street. Before the movie, viewers enjoyed a short film, starring our local attorneys reading excerpts from Lee's book, and discussing the parallels between Maycomb and Colusa.
Thanks to generous donations from our community, all events are free of charge.
Supporting Community Through Reading
Virginia Yerxa Community Read
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”
Atticus Finch