BETWEEN THE LINES READING PROGRAM

If you are visiting this page for the first time we invite you to read the full information about this program for Smith employees below, and hope you will join us! Questions about the "Between the Lines" program can be directed to Staff Council Diversity Committee co-chair Joanne Benkley (jbenkley@smith.edu).

Upcoming Between the Lines events:

Film Screening: Empire Falls
Join us to see the film version of the book! Starring Ed Harris, Helen Hunt, Paul Newman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Joanne Woodward, this Golden Globe winning film is something to look forward to! All welcome. Come for the whole movie on Monday (with intermission) or watch it in parts over two days. Feel free to bring your own snacks!

Part I: Empire Falls movie
Monday, November 12
5:00- 7:00 p.m.
Neilson Browsing Room

Part II: Empire Falls movie
Monday, November 12
7:30 -9:30 p.m.
Neilson Browsing Room
OR
Tuesday, November 13
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Seelye 106

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Background

The Staff Council Diversity Committee is pleased to announce the premiere of “Between the Lines,” a summer reading program for Smith staff and faculty. This summer’s "Between the Lines" features the 2001 novel Empire Falls written by Richard Russo. With this initiative, the Diversity Committee continues its commitment to promote awareness of topics relevant to staff and faculty, deepen our understanding of one another here at Smith, encourage thoughtful discussion, and have fun doing it! We invite all Smith employees- staff and faculty- to read Empire Falls over the summer and participate in a series of facilitated discussions and events this fall around issues of class, inclusivity, equity, and other relevant topics.

Empire Falls, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2002, follows the story of Miles Roby working and living in a small blue-collar town in Maine, where he has been slinging burgers at the Empire Grill for 20 years, a job that cost him his college education and much of his self-respect. What keeps him there? It could be his bright, sensitive daughter Tick, who needs all his help surviving the local high school. Or maybe it’s Janine, Miles’ soon-to-be ex-wife, who’s taken up with a noxiously vain health-club proprietor. Or perhaps it’s the imperious Francine Whiting, who owns everything in town–and seems to believe that “everything” includes Miles himself. In Empire Falls, Richard Russo delves deep into the blue-collar heart of America in a work that overflows with hilarity, heartache, and grace.

We hope you will take this opportunity to connect with other community members in this fun and exciting new way! To let us know that you are participating, please register for the program here. And be sure to check this webpage regularly for updated program information! Questions about "Between the Lines" can be directed to Diversity Committee co-chair Joanne Benkley (jbenkley@smith.edu).

Between the Lines FAQ's

Q. What is the "deadline" for finishing Empire Falls?
A.  Read Empire Falls at your leisure, keeping in mind that we will be meeting early in the fall semester to discuss the book (and there could be spoilers if you haven’t finished it by then).

Q. To what extent do I have to participate if I sign up?
A. As a community enhancing, awareness building, perspective sharing kind of program, we hope you will join any number of fall events to share your reflections on Empire Falls – the story, the characters, and themes that might be relevant in our working community.  How much and how often you participate in the various planned Between the Lines activities is completely up to you.

Q. What is the schedule and how often will discussion groups meet?
A. The Staff Council Diversity Committee is still in the planning stages for fall discussion groups - our goal is to host several sessions at varied times so that all participants will find at least one event they can attend regardless of schedules.  Of course, we hope readers will want to engage in more than one discussion (but there is no obligation) and we will plan accordingly as we gauge interest and availability once the fall semester begins.

Q. Where can I buy Empire Falls?
A. Grecourt Bookshop in the Campus Center is stocking new and used copies of Empire Falls for faculty and staff at a 20% discount.  Call ext. 4140 to check availability; Grecourt is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during the summer.  You can find a variety of other vendors and prices as well as a kindle version of the book at Amazon and other online sites. 

Q. Can I borrow a copy of Empire Falls?
A. Yes, Empire Falls is available for check-out at a number of local libraries including Forbes in Northampton, Williston in Easthampton, and Jones in Amherst.  Smith's Neilson Library owns a number of copies, and copies from Mt. Holyoke and Amherst College libraries can be borrowed via the Interlibrary Loan Service at Neilson Library.  Additionally, the Staff Council Diversity Committee and the Office of Institutional Diversity & Equity have a number of copies which may be borrowed.  If you indicated interest in borrowing Empire Falls when you registered for Between the Lines, you will be contacted when a copy is available for pick-up.  You may also contact Diversity Committee chair Joanne Benkley at jbenkley@smith.edu to request a copy.