"Station Eleven" is DBRL's 2015 One Read

By Taylor Malottki

Emily St. John Mandel's "Station Eleven" has been chosen as this year's Daniel Boone Regional library (DBRL) One Read novel.

The reading panel had more than 100 book suggestions for this year's One Read, but they narrowed it down to "Station Eleven" and James McBride's "The Good Lord Bird." A vote selected Mandel's novel as this year's read, according to a press release.

A New York Time's Bestseller, "Station Eleven" begins its journey on stage during a production of "King Lear" where Arthur Leander, the lead, dies suddenly from a heart attack. Then a disease descends and it's the end of the world - or so one might think.

The story follows the lives of five characters who are tied in one way or another to Leander, including his ex-wife and the man who tried to save his life. A connection between the five narratives that moves back and forth through time creates a story about relationships, fame and the world, according to a press release and an Amazon book synopsis.

"It's a very lyrical page-turner," said Lauren Williams, One Read co-chair and Daniel Boone Regional librarian. "I hesitate to call it science-fiction (because) it's very grounded in the real world, and it feels like it's something that could happen."

The volunteer community task force is still planning programs for September, but they expect to have a panel of experts to discuss the book's overarching themes as well as several related films. They're also hoping to work out a survival skills program that would teach people how to build fires among other things, Williams said. The author is expected to visit Columbia on Sept. 10.

One Read is a community-wide program coordinated by DBRL to encourage local adults to read and then discuss a chosen book.