It’s official. This year’s book selection in the Arlington Heights Memorial Library’s One Book, One Village initiative, The Stolen Queen, has set a record. As of last week, the popular mystery, by New York Times bestselling author, Fiona Davis, has been checked out 1,462 times, making it the highest circulated book in the One Book, One Village series.
That’s not all. Library official say 25 local book groups checked out community book group kits, and more than 700 people attended related programs and book discussions.
This is the 12th year the library has offered the program. The 11-week initiative invites the entire community to come together by reading the same book at the same time and share in the experience through related programs and book discussions.
“The One Book, One Village programming and discussions are designed to go beyond the page,” says Sherri Taber, Services Advisory Coordinator, “giving our community a richer cultural, historical and literary context.”
As part of the library’s related programming, officials created a special after-hours event at the library, which they called One Book, One Gala. It was inspired by New York’s iconic Met Gala, and drew more than 200 guests. The celebration was designed to reflect one of the key settings in The Stolen Queen.
Guests at the One Book, One Gala event enjoy the costume display.
Library officials conclude this year’s One Book, One Village series with a special guest appearance with the author, Davis. The presentation takes place at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at Forest View Educational Center. Davis will be joined by former public broadcasting host, Alison Cuddy. The in-person event is sold out, however the library will be streaming it live on its YouTube channel.
Before that, the library will host a trivia night at 7 p.m. Friday at Eddie’s Restaurant in Arlington Heights. The 90-minute event will feature questions from The Stolen Queen, as well as about all things Egypt and New York. Admission is free, register here.
“Over the years, participation in One Book, One Village has steadily grown, which is a testament to the strength, curiosity, and spirit of our community,” Taber says. “Since the program’s inception, many readers have returned year after year to share in this collective experience.
“Equally exciting is the growing number of first-time participants who join us annually,” she adds, “many of whom tell us how thrilled they are to be part of One Book, One Village for the first time.”
Library patrons learned about the book at outreach events.
All of which begs the question: What makes this book so popular with Arlington Heights readers?
“First, our community is deeply interested in the inner workings of museums — how collections are acquired, curated and interpreted — as well as the vital and evolving conversation around the repatriation of cultural artifacts,” Taber says. “Also, our programs like Building the Pyramids, The Windy City Meets the Nile, and Armchair Archaeology offer expert insight into ancient Egypt which have resonated with our community.
“These aren’t just fun events, they provide access to top-tier scholars such as featured experts from the University of Chicago, Harvard, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Lee Bey, a respected Chicago architecture critic,” Taber adds. “These partnerships allow us to bring expert voices and high-quality content directly to Arlington Heights.”
Altogether, Taber says, these programs brought Egypt to life — not just as a setting in the novel, but as a rich historical and cultural lens to explore.
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