Editorial: Revisiting a classic

Talk about it

The tradition of getting local residents to read, reflect on and discuss the same book continues this month with River Falls Reads. Sponsored by the public library, the spotlight shines on a literary classic, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” by Mark Twain.

River Falls Reads is one of hundreds of reading projects held everywhere across the USA. The idea is for communities to find common ground through sharing experiences of a good book. And, in general, it’s not a bad idea to promote the rewards of reading.

Last year River Falls Reads picked a worthy bestseller that will someday join Tom Sawyer as a classic: “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time,” by Greg Mortenson, son of a former Westside Elementary School principal, who leads a global effort to build schools in mountainous Pakistan so that more girls are educated.

What makes River Falls Reads more interesting are the related activities the public library staff organizes to draw more attention to the selected books.

We’ve already had painting the fence with Tom Sawyer-like scenes during Saturday’s Art on the Kinni, while Monday evening noted local writer Mike Norman spoke about Mark Twain’s hometown of Hannibal, Mo. But there are still more things planned. Among them: