‘Let’s Talk About It Oklahoma’ takes in-depth look at horror fiction classics
Some of the most world’s most recognized literature belongs to the horror fiction genre. After all, who hasn’t heard of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” or Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein?”
The Bartlesville Public Library, in conjunction with the Oklahoma Humanities Council, in August will kick off “Let’s Talk About It Oklahoma” — an OHC program that encourages communities to come together to discuss literary works and their authors.
In this four-session series, discussions will center around eight books encompassing classic 19th Century and contemporary literature from the horror fiction genre. Aiding in the discussion will be local scholars who will shed light on the works and the authors.
“The ‘Let’s Talk About It Oklahoma’ program is a grant-funded program from the Oklahoma Humanities Council. It is a series of four programs featuring book discussions, with each program being led by a local humanities scholar,” said Nadine Hawke, head of Reference Services, Bartlesville Public Library.
Hawke said that at each of the programs, a humanities scholar will attend as a guest speaker and will talk 30 to 40 minutes about the assigned book for that program.
“The scholar will address that book through his or her academic background, such as through the lens of literature, philosophy, ethics or history,” Hawke said.
“After the scholar’s presentation, the participants will break up into discussion groups, led by discussion leaders, and the scholar will visit with the groups as they discuss the book. The program will then end with a few closing remarks from the scholar.”
Books scheduled for discussion for the series are:
Aug. 9
“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” by Robert Louis Stevenson “The Dark Half,” by Stephen King
Scholar: Dr. Russell Lawson
Sept. 13
“Frankenstein,” by Mary Shelley “Mutation,” by Robin Cook Scholar: Dr. Britton Gildersleeve
Oct. 13
“Dracula,” by Bram Stoker “Salem’s Lot,” by Stephen King Scholar: Dr. Andrew Vassar
Nov. 10
“Northanger Abbey,” by Jane Austen “Mistress of Mellyn,” by Victoria Holt Scholar: Dr. Trisha Yarbrough
According to Hawke, OHC is providing the books for patrons to borrow. To register and to borrow books for the first program on Aug. 8, stop by the Reference Desk at the Bartlesville Public Library, located at 600 S. Johnstone Ave. in downtown Bartlesville.
“At the end of each program, patrons will be able to pick up the next two books for the next program and return the ones they borrowed,” Hawke said.
Refreshments will be available at each session, Hawke said.
For more information, visit www.okhumanities.org/lets-talk-about-it-oklahoma or contact the Bartlesville Public Library at 918-338-4168.
Books, services, and other materials for this series are provided by Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma, a project of the Oklahoma Humanities Council with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Funding for this series was provided by grants from the Inasmuch Foundation and Kirkpatrick Family Fund. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in these programs do not necessarily represent those of OHC or NEH.