Yakima Valley Libraries – 2019 Valley Reads

Yakima, WA – Yakima Valley Reads, the annual community-wide book club hosted by Yakima Valley Libraries, is back!

This year, we’re encouraging adults throughout the Yakima Valley to join us in reading “The Only Woman in the Room,” by bestselling author, Marie Benedict.

Described as “a page-turning tapestry of intrigue and glamour about a woman who refuses to be taken for granted,” Benedict’s historical novel is based on the life of 1940s film star and glamour icon, Hedy Lamarr, whose personal life rivaled any role she ever played on the silver screen.

Austrian-born with Jewish heritage, she fled her marriage to a controlling Austrian arms dealer, narrowly escaped Nazi persecution, and arrived in 1930s Hollywood where she eventually became known as the most beautiful woman in film.

In a place and time where a woman’s value was measured by her sex appeal, Lamarr capitalized on her beauty, while also quietly leveraging her intelligence and skill as a scientist by helping to coinvent a radio system that paved the way for the later invention of Bluetooth technology.

Her story is incredible, fascinating, and inspiring.

Community members are invited to join Yakima Valley Libraries through November 7, for book discussions, film screenings, and guest speakers all based around topics and themes from the book.

Featured events include: 

• “The Most Beautiful Inventor in Film,” presented by professors Maria Sanders and Melissa Johnson, from Central Washington University’s Film Studies program. Their talk will cover the legacy of Hedy Lamarr as an actress, film producer, and inventor in midcentury Hollywood.
  • Wednesday, October 23 @ 6:00pm
    Yakima Central Library (102 N. Third St, Yakima) 
• “Hollywood and the Home Front: Tinsel Town’s Contributions to WWII,” a presentation by historian and former broadcaster, John Jensen, which will focus on the influence of Hollywood during WWII, and includes film, radio and TV clips from the era.
  • Tuesday, October 29 @ 5:30pm
    Sunnyside Community Library (621 Grant Ave, Sunnyside)
  • Wednesday, October 30 @ 6:00pm
    West Valley Community Library (223 S. 72nd Ave, Yakima)
• An Evening with Marie Benedict: The keynote event featuring a talk, audience Q&A, and book signing with the author!Thursday, November 7 @ 6:30pm
  The Seasons Performance Hall (101 N. Naches Ave, Yakima)
  Admission is free.

For more information, and the complete calendar of events, visit: www.yvl.org/yakimareads.

 

###