The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and bring the transformative power of literature into the lives of its citizens. The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment.” To learn more about The Big Read, visit www.NEABigRead.org.
The Big Read is a time to share a favorite or important book, to explore ideas, themes and topics of local interest as a community. We invite our community to read a book together and experience a number of book related events and activities in the Treasure Valley and other Idaho locations. The Big Read selection for 2009 is THE MALTESE FALCON by Dashiell Hammett.
Calendar of Events
Most events are free to the public - some offered with special Big Read prices. The Cabin will have “Read and Release” packets of The Maltese Falcon available at most events. Event attendees will have a chance to enter a drawing to win a bookstore gift certificate.
January 13, 2009
Kick-off media event 10:00 AM The Egyptian Theatre
Mayor David Bieter formally opens The Big Read and the falcon disappears!
January 20, 2009
Legislative Day at The Capitol Annex
The Idaho Library Association presents legislators with a copy of The Maltese Falcon and materials.
February, 2009
Special displays at Ada Community Library
Main Library, 10664 W. Victory Rd
1st-14th - pulp fiction & early crime comics (including The Maltese Falcon) 15th-28th period costume.
February 3, 2009
CSI Boise - Forensics and the Ada County Sheriff’s Office 7:00 PM
Location: Boise Public Library - Hillcrest Branch, 5246 W Overland Rd
Ada County detectives present information on local cases and crime scene processes. [Watch for additional CSI Boise presentations by the Boise Police Department]
February 4, 2009
The Thin Man Film Screening 5:30 PM
Location: The Overland Park Cinema, 7051 W. Overland Rd
Free screening of the Thin Man, the first of Dashiell Hammett’s popular series of books about former private detective, Nick Charles (William Powell), and his clever young wife, Nora (Myrna Loy). A reception w/light refreshments and Thin Man discussion follows next door at Rediscovered Bookshop.
February 9, 2009
Family Mystery Day Featuring Chet Gecko 4:00 PM
Location: Meridian Library, 1326 W. Cherry Ln
Family mystery fun with various activities, a brief reading from The Malted Falcon: from the tattered casebook of Chet Gecko, private eye by Bruce Hale and, of course, a visit from Chet Gecko himself.
February 10, 2009
Family Mystery Night Featuring Chet Gecko 6:00 PM
Location: Boise Public Library - Collister Branch, 4724 W State St
Family mystery fun with various activities, a brief reading from The Malted Falcon: from the tattered casebook of Chet Gecko, private eye by Bruce Hale and, of course, a visit from Chet Gecko himself.
February 11, 2009
Family Mystery Night Featuring Chet Gecko 6:00 PM
Location: Hidden Springs Branch of Ada Community Library, 5849 W. Hidden Springs Dr
Family mystery fun with various activities, a brief reading from The Malted Falcon: from the tattered casebook of Chet Gecko, private eye by Bruce Hale and, of course, a visit from Chet Gecko himself.
February 14, 2009
Family Mystery Day Featuring Chet Gecko 2:00 PM
Location: Boise Public Library – Main Library, 715 S. Capitol Blvd
Family mystery fun with various activities, a brief reading from The Malted Falcon: from the tattered casebook of Chet Gecko, private eye by Bruce Hale, and, of course, a visit from Chet Gecko himself.
February 17, 2009
City Club of Boise 11:45 AM
Location: The Grove Hotel, 245 S. Capitol Blvd
Don Herron presents "Shadowing Dashiell Hammett and Sam Spade.” Don has brought Hammett’s 1920s San Francisco to life via tours and books for thirty years. Don will be joined by local mystery author, Joanne Pence. Supported in part by the Idaho Humanities Council; rebroadcast on Boise State Radio.
February 17, 2009
Don Herron 7:00 PM
Location: Boise Public Library – Main Library, 715 S. Capitol Blvd
Mr. Herron follows his earlier presentation with “Thirty Years on Hammett’s Mean Streets.”
Also - The Cabin will be on hand for “What’s Your Big Read?” asking for a 15 second video description of your latest big read to share via our website. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Idaho Humanities Council, a State-based Program of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
February 18, 2009
Family Mystery Day Featuring Chet Gecko 4:00 PM
Location: Star Branch of Ada Community Library, 10706 W. State St
Family mystery fun with various activities, a brief reading from The Malted Falcon: from the tattered casebook of Chet Gecko, private eye by Bruce Hale, and, of course, a visit from Chet Gecko himself.
February 19, 2009
Family Mystery Night Featuring Chet Gecko 7:00 PM
Location: Ada Community Library – Main Library, 10664 W. Victory Rd
Family mystery fun with various activities, a brief reading from The Malted Falcon: from the tattered casebook of Chet Gecko, private eye by Bruce Hale and, of course, a visit from Chet Gecko himself.
February 25, 2009
Discovering and Discussing The Maltese Falcon 7:00 PM
Location: Boise Public Library – Main Library, 715 S. Capitol Blvd
Richard Layman, author of six books on Dashiell Hammett and two time nominee for an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America for editing “Selected Letters of Dashiell Hammett, 1921-1960” and "Discovering The Maltese Falcon and Sam Spade," will present fascinating facts about The Maltese Falcon sure to spark a lively facilitated discussion to follow.
February 28, 2009
Falcon Day 12:00-3:00 PM
Location: World Center for Birds of Prey 5668 W Flying Hawk Ln. (at the end of S. Cole Road)
We’re celebrating falcons at the World Center with a reception, archives of falconry tours, and live bird demonstrations (inside/outside weather dependent). Also - The Cabin will be on hand for “What’s Your Big Read?” asking for a 15 second video description of your latest "Big Read" to share via our website. Special Big Read entrance fees all day: $5 Adults/$4 Seniors/$3 Children. Special falcon activities 12-3 PM.
March 1, 2009
The Maltese Falcon Film Screenings 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM
Location: The Egyptian Theatre, 700 W. Main St
Experience director John Huston’s faithful adaptation of Hammett’s novel on the big screen at Big Read pricing of $5 either show. Humphrey Bogart leads a first rate cast in a film not to be missed.
March 3, 2009
An Evening with Joe Gores: film screening and reading 5:30 PM
Location: Overland Park Cinema/Rediscovered Bookshop, 7051/7079 W. Overland Rd
We begin the evening screening the film "Hammett" based on the 1975 novel by author/screenwriter Joe Gores. After the film, Mr. Gores will remark on his novel and film adaptation then present his new book "Spade and Archer: the prequel to Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon." The presentation will be followed by book signing and reception next door at the Rediscovered Bookshop.
March 5, 2009
Speakeasy Night at the Falcon Tavern 8:00 PM
Location: The Falcon Tavern, 780 W. Idaho St
1930s music, costume contest w/prizes (dress as a Maltese Falcon character or simply in period), light appetizers, and a Maltese Falcon drink menu at special Big Read prices.
March 6, 2009
Coppers and Hoods: a Costume Mystery Party for Teens 4-5:30 PM
Location: Ada Community Library, 10664 W. Victory Rd
Teens grades 7-12 come in costume and get immersed in the era of the Maltese Falcon with slang, music and a mystery to solve.
March 10, 2009
Joanne Klein "Women of Mystery: Authors of British Detective Fiction from the 1880s to the Present" 7:00 PM
Location: The Cabin, 801 S. Capitol Blvd
We acknowledge Women’s History Month with a presentation on female mystery writers.
The Cabin will be on hand for “What’s Your Big Read?” asking for a 15-second video description of your latest big read. This program is supported by a grant from the Idaho Humanities Council, a State-based Program of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
March 13, 2009
Night Stalkers: Detective Stories from the Old Idaho Penitentiary 7:00 p.m.
Location: Old Idaho Penitentiary, 2445 Old Penitentiary Rd
Relive the thrilling detective hunt for Idaho’s most infamous criminals behind the prison walls.
Cost: Special Big Read Price $10! (Normally $13). Limited availability!!
Purchase tickets at the Old Penitentiary or call Erika or Amber at 334-2844 for credit card purchase.
March 15, 2009
The Ides of March 1:00 PM
Location: The Cabin, 801 S. Capitol Blvd
Discussion will be lively surrounding The Maltese Falcon and Dashiell Hammett’s work to the Treasure Valley Book Discussion groups.
March 16, 2009
Killing English: How Dashiell Hammett Transformed Mystery Story Language 7:00 PM
Location: Ada Community Library, 10664 W. Victory Rd
Hammett’s fictional characters utilized language ranging from urban criminal lingo of the 1920s to lyrical poetic, and none of his characters so exemplified this linguistic richness as much as those in The Maltese Falcon. Referencing novel and film, author and music critic Norm Weinstein leads an exploration of Hammett’s impact on language of American detective tales, introducing a new sense of humor and shock into American English.
March 20, 2009
The Falcon is Found Party at Ada After Hours 7:00 PM
Location: Ada Community Library, 10664 W. Victory Rd
Celebrate as we close The Maltese Falcon case and enjoy Big Band sound as the JB Duo featuring Sue Geipel plays tunes from the turn of the last century through the 1940s.
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest. The Big Read in the Pacific Northwest is supported, in part, by a grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. To learn more about The Big Read, visit www.NEABigRead.org.
The Big Read Boise and beyond partners: Ada Community Library, Boise Public Library, The Cabin, the Idaho Statesman
Idaho Library Book Discussions
Hammett and The Maltese Falcon offers classic mystery enjoyment while it explores themes of moral code, street smarts, the “femme fatale,” obsession, time and place. Great newspaperman Damon Runyon noted “A Hammett detective was “hardboiled”: fundamentally a good egg, but far from soft.” Hammett’s crisp style and vivid slang created a gritty, street-level realism with lasting impact. Lively discussions of both themes and language are expected.
January 14, 2009
6:00 PM – Hidden Springs Branch of Ada Community Library
January 22, 2009
12:00 PM – Sandpoint Library of East Bonner Library District
January 27, 2009
1:00 PM -- Cascade Public Library
January 29, 2009
2:00 PM and 7:00 PM – Caldwell Public Library
February 5, 2009
6:30 PM – Garden City Public Library
February 7, 2009
11:00 AM – Ada Community Library
February 12, 2009
7:00 PM – Boise Public Library - Collister Branch
February 19, 2009
7:00 PM – Hailey Public Library; Boise Public Library – Hillcrest Branch
February 23, 2009
6:30 PM – Stanley Community Library
March 4, 2009
7:00 PM – Meadows Valley Public Library
March 5, 2009
7:00 PM -- Middleton Civic Center (Middleton Public Library)
March 6, 2009
7:00 PM - Mountain Home Public Library
March 10, 2009
7:00 PM – Lewiston City Library; Twin Falls Public Library
March 11, 2009
6:30 PM – Meridian Library
March 12, 2009
7:00 PM – Star Branch of Ada Community Library
March 19, 2009
6:00 PM – Community Library - Ketchum
March 20, 2009
6:30 PM - Mountain Home Air Force Base
Participating high schools: Boise, Capital, Centennial, Gooding, Timberline
