One Book One Broomfield
EntertainmentBooks
One Book One Broomfield underway with Beautiful Boy
Community book club will focus on topics of addiction, family relationships
By Jennifer Rios | jrios@prairiemountainmedia.com | Broomfield Enterprise
PUBLISHED: July 8, 2019 at 2:55 pm | UPDATED: July 8, 2019 at 3:11 pm
This year's One Book One Broomfield selection takes on substance abuse and a family's journey to help their Beautiful Boy recover, as told in David Sheff 's memoir.
"Even though we didn't get to look at as many books as we nor mally do, I felt we definitely vetted a lot of different topics and really feel this is a gr eat book for us that will lead to a lot of good conversations," said Ward 3 Councilman Deven Shaff, a member of the selection committee.
A lot of parents will be able to look at David's story and be able to identify with parts of his experiences.
"One thing that really struck me was the story of a father and a son. It highlights the importance of that," Shaff said. "I think that is missing in our society — that real, solid connection."
The book committee sped up the process so the programs could be listed in on B-Rex and in the fall program guide, Shaff said. Most committee members are avid readers, he said, and brought a variety of titles to choose from among, including nonfiction and themes that could tie into the Broomfield Veterans Memorial Museum.
"One that came to the top was Beautiful Boy," Shaff said. "For one it's a ver y good story. It's very well written."
It also gave the committee a chance to collaborate heavily with Broomfield Health and Human Services and Communities That Care Coalition.
In the past, committee members have partnered with other groups, including Broomfield Open Space and Trails when the book was Grandma Gatewood's Walk which was about a 67-year-old who became the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail. This year those par tnerships are even more integrated, Shaff said, and Broomfield's Health and Human Ser vices department and the Broomfield Communities That Care Coalition are playing an important role in creating the programs.
"The conversations that are happening for the programming between these dif ferent areas is much more intense," Shaff said. "I think this is a much stronger relationship with outside entities as well as different city depar tments. I think it will be a great relationship."
This selection also was fitting, Shaff said, because Broomfield City Council made focusing on mental health services a priority this year.
Since the content is so emotionally heavy, some community members have asked if the committee if they can pick something lighter for the 2020 selection. Shaff said that selection process is beginning now and those concer ns will be taken into consideration.
Copies of Beautiful Boy now are available in all formats — print, audio and ebooks — at the library, Librarian Esther Knox-Stutsman said. They also have book club kits with eight books and a list of questions that can be checked out. The library also has ordered extra copies of Tweak written by Nick Sheff, David's son.
One Book One Broomfield began in 2006 and has featured books such as The Martian, Lucky Boy, Dark Matter and Never home.
Because this year's selection is on the serious side, Knox-Stutsman said they tried to make some of the programing a little more fun. They will partner with Broomfield rec to host a One Book One Broomfield workout at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 5 at Broomfield Community Park.
"It's keeping in mind that a healthy body can be part of a healthy mind," Knox-Stutsman said. "Exercise plays a role in recovery for one of the characters in the book who suffers from addiction.
Every year, the library tries to incorporate a community art project. This year a local artist will come to the library for a community drop-in session where residents can create art — using recycled materials as a canvas — that will be put together into one large piece.
They will also screen the film adaptation of book, which stars Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet. It will be shown from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Broomfield Auditorium.
Experts from Community REACH will host a training about the stigma of addiction and resources available for people seeking help in Broomfield and surrounding counties. It will be followed by a discussion where panelists will speak about their personal experiences with addiction.
Local author and founder of The Interpersonal Healing Center, Dr. Lisa Templeton, will present on strategies for coping with difficult topics, including addiction and mental illness. Another program is "The Science of Addiction Lecture," which will include a presentation on substance use and brain chemistry from a Colorado expert who works with young adults and teens in a drug and alcohol rehab center. It will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 14.
Some programs will be drop-in while others require free tickets. Residents can register starting July 18 at B-Rex.com.
"We're just really excited," Knox-Stutsman said. "There's a need in the community to have these sor ts of conversations, even thought it can be dif ficult for people to talk about."
"One thing that really struck me was the story of a father and a son. It highlights the importance of that. I think that is missing in our society."
Book discussion and author talk
What: Book Discussion
When: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 7
Where: Mamie Doud Eisenhower Public Library, 3 Community Park Road
Join other readers in a lively book discussion led by the Broomfield Enterprise's "Bookwoman," Kerry Pettis.
What: Author Talk and Book Signing with David Sheff
When: 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 8
Where: Broomfield Auditorium, 3 Community Park Road
Free tickets are required for these and other programs. Registration opens July 18 at B-REx.com.
Jennifer Rios
Jennifer Rios covers the City and County of Broomfield
Follow Jennifer Rios	@jennifer_rios
Longmont City Council broadens development setback requirement as part of Wildlife Management Plan update
Photos: The Lakota Ride Stops in Boulder
Boulder City Council directs staff to examine e-cigarette regulations to curb youth use