One Book One Watertown Events: Meet the Author, Food Tasting, Concert & More

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Dina Nayeri, the Author of Refuge, will be at the Watertown Library as part of One Book One Watertown for 2018.

Dina Nayeri, the Author of Refuge, will be at the Watertown Library as part of One Book One Watertown for 2018.

Each year, the Watertown Free Public Library chooses a book, encourages everyone in the community to read it along with us, and hosts a variety of programs related to the book, its setting, and its themes. This community reading program is known as One Book, One Watertown. 

The Watertown Free Public Library put out the following annoucement:

This year, Refuge by Dina Nayeri is our One Book, One Watertown selection for 2018. Refuge charts the deeply moving lifetime relationship between a father and a daughter, seen through the prism of global immigration.

We have chosen Refuge in this time of uncertainty for immigrants in our country and around the world. The staff of the WFPL invites you to join us in celebrating the refugee (and broader immigrant) experience—the bravery and perseverance needed to overcome the obstacles of language, culture, and bureaucracy, while striving to find a feeling of belonging and home.

This year, we’re also including a “read-along” title for younger readers and English language learners: It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas.

Books are available now! Stop by for a copy, or use the links to request Refuge or It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel in your preferred format.

Events (Save the events on Facebook!)

Exhibit: My Family Story
March 1-31, 2018
Watertown residents are encouraged to share their own immigration stories, or the immigration stories of family members for inclusion in this exhibit. Go to watertownlib.org/family for more information.

Meet the Author: Dina Nayeri
Thursday, March 1
Tasting at 6:00 p.m. tickets are required for the tasting.
Author presentation begins at 7 p.m. tickets are not required for the author presentation.
Sample delicious, traditional Persian foods provided by Roksana’s, then hear Dina Nayeri speak. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning February 1 at the Circulation Desk. Price: $5. We cannot accept credit/debit cards.

Concert: Persian Music Center of New England’s Mezrab
Sunday, March 4 | 2 p.m.
Join us for an afternoon of music in celebration of Refuge.  The performance will feature a selection of Persian music styles including traditional and folk pieces from a variety of local artists.

Community Book Discussion
Wednesday, March 7 | 7 p.m.
Share your impressions of Refuge with your neighbors.

Aftab Iranian Dance Troupe
Saturday, March 10 | 3 p.m.
Aftab is an Iranian dance group run by students and young professionals. Aftab hopes audiences can experience the beauty of Iran’s diverse and rich culture through a medley of traditional and modern Iranian dance.

Democracy Talks: Democracy in Iran
Tuesday, March 13 | 7 p.m.
Pouya Alimagham, historian of the modern Middle East at MIT, will explore the roots of U.S.-Iran antagonisms via the history of democracy in modern Iran.

Psychology of Immigration and Adaptation
Thursday, March 15 | 7 p.m.
Sarina Kaivani will explore the psychological aspects of the immigration experience, particularly factors that facilitate or impede an immigrant’s adjustment and mental health.   Issues around sense of self and social identities will be discussed.

Reading: Kathleen Spivack
Sunday, March 18 | 3 p.m.
Award-winning local author Kathleen Spivack will read from her debut novel Unspeakable Things, which uses magical realism to tell the stories of refugees fleeing the Holocaust and relocating in New York City.

Family Book Discussion: It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel
Tuesday, March 20 | 7 p.m.
Families with children are welcome to discuss.

Panel: New English Language Learners Share Their Immigrant Experiences
Thursday, March 22 | 6:30 p.m.
Project Literacy students from countries such as Iran, Russia, Armenia, and Brazil will share their experiences and emotions at moving away from their home countries in search of a new life in the United States.

Program on Addiction
Thursday, March 29 | 7 p.m.
Please see our website and the next newsletter for details.

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