"One Book, One Community" - "Goodnight, Nebraska"

What would happen if everybody in Columbus read the same book and then came together to talk about the themes and the characters in the book? We would learn that reading and discussing books lead to a greater understanding of ourselves and others. Our citizens would be reminded that libraries and bookstores are vital gathering places where we can come together to talk and learn about things that really matter.

“One Book-One Community” events have already happened in cities from Buffalo, New York, to Seattle, Washington. In nearly every instance, the local library system has been the driving force behind the community-wide reading program. Each community has put its own spin on its book event and Columbus plans to be no different.

Columbus Public Library, Chamber of Commerce, Columbus Telegram, and the Sesquicentennial Committee have been in collaboration to create “One Book-One Columbus”. I’m very pleased to be able to witness volunteerism in action. All of the participants have given so generously of their time and talents. The project has been a labor of love for me and the others. But this is just the beginning. In the days and months ahead we’ll need the people of Columbus to join in by reading the book and attending the programs related to the title selected.
We’ve set in motion the basic plan of “One Book-One Columbus”. The book we are going to read is “Goodnight, Nebraska” by Tom McNeal.

The story line specifically relates to our community in terms of setting, story, and the author’s ties to Nebraska. It raises universal social issues that are relevant to Columbus.

Randall Hunsacker, the protagonist of Tom McNeal’s first novel, is only 17, but already he has two strikes against him: his father’s death when Randall was thirteen led to a succession of “stepfathers” and the last one, Lenny, Randall has shot. The shooting, a suicide attempt, and a stint in juvenile hall are what bring Randall to the small town of Goodnight, Nebraska---a place where he hopes to start over. He gets a job, earns a place on the high school football team, and even starts dating one of the cheerleaders; things are looking up for Randall. But in a town like Goodnight---Hicksburg, to Randall---what goes up must eventually come down. And so it is for Randall---he gets injured during a football game and his girlfriend, thinking he’s dead, announces they are engaged. Before he knows it, he is married, living in a trailer, facing a life that seems to have dead-ended before it even got started.

Appearances can be deceiving, however. To Randall and his wife, Marcy, Goodnight seems like the last place on earth; he never imagined himself coming here, she never stopped dreaming about getting out.

Much of McNeal’s novel has to do with the gradual disintegration of Randall and Marcy’s marriage. At the same time the story limns a warm portrait of a middle-American town that may not be very exciting to live in, but one where people know they can count on each other in a pinch. It takes Marcy leaving---and Randall going after her---to finally teach them both that there’s really no place like Goodnight.

We’ve patterned our community-wide reading event after Lincoln and Omaha’s successful ventures. The Columbus Public Library will have 40 copies of the book available for check out and 60 copies for sale. There will be books for sale at Tooley Drugstore and also at Traditions Inn Restaurant and Bed & Breakfast and Gifts. The local book clubs have generously agreed to host the public book discussions, all of which will meet at the Library. In addition, there will be three workshops specifically aimed at the main themes: the juvenile court system will be moderated by the Honorable Judge Patrick McDermott; local coaches will discuss the influence coaches have on the minds and bodies of our young people; and finally, a group of counselors, psychologists, and influential individuals involved in local ministries will discuss marital relations and the role of community mores in molding a community spirit.

The exact dates, times and places will be announced in the near future. The book “Goodnight, Nebraska” will go on sale in the three locations by November 1st. All events will start in January, 2006 and culminate in June, 2006. Hopefully “One Book-One Columbus” will become an annual event. We do need volunteers to help with promotion and advertising, if this might be of interest to you, please contact Sally Hansen at Columbus Public Library, 402/564-7116 ext. 2