Falmouth Reads Together

02/07/2025

March 15 at 2:00 PM: What’s Next for the Border? – A presentation by Miriam Davidson

Miriam Davidson is a Tucson-based writer whose work focuses on border issues. Her most recent book, The Beloved Border: Humanity and Hope in a Contested Land, tells powerful stories of atrocities and compassion at the southern border. Davidson’s presentation will focus on the history of migration at the border, placing the Falmouth Reads Together selection, Solito, in both historical and contemporary context. She will also share accounts of what life is like south of the border, crossing the Darién Gap and cartel violence in Mexico. As well as discussing the environmental and cultural damage from the border wall and mine construction.

Her award-winning journalism has appeared in the New York Times, the AARP Bulletin, the Arizona Republic, the Nation, the Progressive, and many other outlets. She attended Yale College and the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

Register here.

A Falmouth Reads Together Program What's Next for the Border?A presentation by Miriam Davidson Miriam Davidson is a Tucson-based writer whose work focuses on border issues.   Her most recent book, The Beloved Border: Humanity and Hope in a Contested Land, tells powerful stories of atrocities and ...

02/07/2025

February 12 at 4:00 PM: Solito Book Discussion at the library

Join us at the library for a book discussion about Solito. We will explore key themes like, the immigrant experience, identity and belonging, resilience and hope, and family and community.

We encourage participants to reflect on how Solito resonates with your own experiences, perspectives, and understanding of the world today. Whether you’ve read the book or just started, we invite you to come with your thoughts, questions, and personal reflections.

More book discussions are being planned for different venues around town.

Register here.

Falmouth Reads Together Join us at the library for a book discussion about Solito.   We will explore key themes like, the immigrant experience, identity and belonging, resilience and hope, and family and community.   We encourage participants to reflect on how Solito resonates with your own expe...

02/07/2025

February 7 at 2:00 PM: On Childhood Migration from Central America–In Conversation with
Javier Zamora

The library will screen an author interview with Javier Zamora that was previously recorded by the Library Speakers Consortium. Tune in for a special conversation with New York Times bestselling author Javier Zamora as he chats with us about his riveting tale of survival and perseverance as told in his award-winning memoir Solito.

Register here.

On Childhood Migration from Central America--In Conversation with Javier ZamoraThe library will screen an author interview with Javier Zamora that was previously recorded by the Library Speakers ConsortiumTune in for a special conversation with New York Times bestselling author Javier Zamora as he c...

01/29/2025

The Library is happy to take part in this year’s Falmouth Reads Together. The pick for 2025 is Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora. A young poet tells the inspiring story of his migration from El Salvador to the United States at the age of nine in this “gripping memoir” (NPR) of bravery, hope, and finding family. Stop by the Library to pick up your copy!

07/27/2024

04/22/2024

A great turnout to hear Dick Ryder tell the story of CG36500, from "The Finest Hours"

04/11/2024

This Saturday...sign up here: https://www.eventkeeper.com/code/ekform.cfm?curOrg=FALMOUTH&curID=690868&CFID=112148626&CFTOKEN=35bde297212d5d20-049AB3CD-D4AE-528A-5350A0555794DBFF
Dick Ryder from Orleans Historical Society on CG36500
This is a Falmouth Reads Together event for our 2024 book pick The Finest Hours!
Join us on Saturday, April 13th at 1pm in the Hermann meeting room for Dick Ryder's presentation on CG36500, the Coast Guard lifeboat at the heart of The Finest Hours rescue.
On February 18th 1952 Dick Ryder was a 12 year old boy in Chatham, listening to his dads radio receiver as the messages regarding the rescue went back and forth. He later served as the Coxswain of CG36500. Come listen to his fascinating story.
"Motor Lifeboat CG36500 was built in 1946 at Curtis Bay, Maryland Coast Guard Yard, as all 36 footer's were, and stationed at the Chatham, Massachusetts Coast Guard Lifeboat Station. Like most 36's, it had an active and glorious career with many rescues. Decommissioned in 1968, today the CG36500 is the only operating survivor of its class on the East Coast, and one of only a handful that still exists anywhere in the country. This Gold Medal boat is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and can be viewed by the public nearly year-round at its berths in Orleans."
Dick Ryder was born and raised on Cape Cod. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1959 and after 20 years of active service, he retired as a Lieutenant Commander. After retirement he engaged his carpentry skills and worked as a wooden boat carpenter. He excelled in wood working, having built five wooden boats, beautifully carved and gilded signs, half hull models, several decks, a dining room addition, a gazebo, and stairs to the beach in Eastham. Everything he constructed was built to "go to sea." He was involved with the move of the Nauset Lighthouse, replacing the slate roof of the Oil House at the Light, the furnishing of Old Harbor Life-Saving Station, the Friends of The Cape Cod National Seashore and the ongoing maintenance of the restored Motor Lifeboat CG36500. He was proud to have safely piloted the CG36500 to places like Boston, Salem, Nantucket, Cuttyhunk, New London and most Cape Cod ports. He authored two books about the Old Harbor Station. The first being "Old Harbor Station, Cape Cod" in 1990. The second, in 2010, was "Seashore Sentinel."
This program is supported by the Falmouth Reads Together Committee.
CONTACT: Adult Services 508-457-2555 x7 [email protected]
LOCATION: Hermann Foundation Meeting Room

Event List

04/03/2024

This Friday at 11 at the Falmouth Public Library on Main St...book discussion "The Finest Hours". Join us

The Finest Hours Book Discussion

This is a Falmouth Reads Together event for our 2024 book pick The Finest Hours!

Join us for a book discussion on Friday, April 5th at 11am in the Hermann meeting room for our Falmouth Reads 2024 book pick The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman. Registration is required as space is limited.

"In the early hours of Monday, February 18, while the storm raged, two oil tankers, the Pendleton and the Fort Mercer, found themselves in the same horrifying predicament. Built with "dirty steel," and not prepared to withstand such ferocious seas, both tankers split in two, leaving dozens of men on board utterly at the Atlantic's mercy. The Finest Hours is the gripping, true story of the valian attempt to resuce the souls huddling inside the broken halves of the two ships."

"A breathtaking story . . . defies the imagination." - The Cape Cod Chronicle

"A blockbuster account of tragedy at sea." - The Providence Journal

"Captures the wit, grit, and sacrifice of Coasties and their boats." - Minneapolis Star Tribune

This program is supported by the Falmouth Reads Together Committee.
CONTACT: Adult Services 508-457-2555 x7 [email protected]
LOCATION: Hermann Foundation Meeting Room

04/03/2024

This Friday at 11 at the Falmouth Public Library on Main St. is another book discussion "The Finest Hours.

The Finest Hours Book Discussion

This is a Falmouth Reads Together event for our 2024 book pick The Finest Hours!

Join us for a book discussion on Friday, April 5th at 11am in the Hermann meeting room for our Falmouth Reads 2024 book pick The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman. Registration is required as space is limited.

"In the early hours of Monday, February 18, while the storm raged, two oil tankers, the Pendleton and the Fort Mercer, found themselves in the same horrifying predicament. Built with "dirty steel," and not prepared to withstand such ferocious seas, both tankers split in two, leaving dozens of men on board utterly at the Atlantic's mercy. The Finest Hours is the gripping, true story of the valian attempt to resuce the souls huddling inside the broken halves of the two ships."

"A breathtaking story . . . defies the imagination." - The Cape Cod Chronicle

"A blockbuster account of tragedy at sea." - The Providence Journal

"Captures the wit, grit, and sacrifice of Coasties and their boats." - Minneapolis Star Tribune

This program is supported by the Falmouth Reads Together Committee.
CONTACT: Adult Services 508-457-2555 x7 [email protected]
LOCATION: Hermann Foundation Meeting Room

03/01/2024

Falmouth Reads Together has selected "The Finest Hours" the incredible story of the 1952 Coast Guard rescue off the coast of Chatham.

Our first event is Tuesday, March 5th at 7:00 p.m. This is a Zoom event from the Ashland Public Library. Sign up soon and you'll receive an email before the event.
Here is the link to join us:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-england-lighthouses-and-the-people-who-kept-them-book-talk-tickets-853175198987

Zoom Talk: New England Lighthouses and the People Who Kept Them

This is a Falmouth Reads Together event for our 2024 book pick The Finest Hours!

Everyone knows that there's "something about lighthouses" that gives them broad appeal, but their vital role in our history and culture is little appreciated. Our early nation was built on maritime economy, and lighthouses were part of the system that made that possible. Due to automation, traditional lighthouse keeping is a way of life that has faded into the past. One of our favorite speakers, Jeremy D'Entremont tells the history of New England's historic and picturesque lighthouses primarily focusing on the colorful and dramatic stories of lighthouse keepers and their families.

This event is brought to us by the Ashland Public Library, and also co-sponsored by the Falmouth Board of Library Trustees!

Click here to register, and you will receive the Zoom link before the event.

Please note that this event is Zoom only, and does not take place at the Falmouth Public Library!
CONTACT: Ashland Public Library 508-881-0134 [email protected]
LOCATION: Online via Zoom

Registration through our event calendar is required to receive Zoom link. Registration on Eventbrite doesn't count.

02/04/2024

The 2024 Book Selection announcement is coming soon. Watch this site as well as the Falmouth Enterprise