Fiesta del libros

Locals kick off the 2007 Lake Oswego Reads program

By Cori Bolger and MATT SHERMAN

The Lake Oswego Review, Jan 11, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Vern Uyetake / The Lake Oswego Review

Masud Tahmassbi plays guitar during the LO Reads party. Tahmassbi and his step-father, Lake Oswego resident Mariano De Orbegoso, performed Spanish music at the party.

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For rabid readers, the selection for this year’s Lake Oswego Reads program is perfect — a book that revolves around a love for books.

And for those fascinated with colorful Spanish culture, even better — the book is set in Barcelona after World War II.

On Tuesday, hundreds of people who fit one or both of those categories visited the Lake Oswego Public Library to kick off the program and claim their complimentary copy of Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s “The Shadow of the Wind.”

The free bash — a virtual Fiesta del libros — featured live Spanish music by Mariano De Orbegoso and Masud Tahmassbi and a table of hors d’oeuvres such as olives, cheese and spiced potatoes, garnished with tiny red and yellow flags of Spain.

“This is the best deal in town,” said Mike Reilly, a retired teacher who enjoys reading mysteries.

A library regular, he enthusiastically looks forward to starting “Wind,” a book he knows nothing about — yet.

About 700 copies of the 2004 international best-seller flew out of volunteers’ hands and into those of readers eager to dig into the epic tale of murder, madness and doomed love.

Oh, and books, too.

Diane Ring, a former librarian whose primary interest is rare books and manuscripts, felt as though the choice was meant for her.

“I really love it when libraries reach out to communities in such an inclusive way,” Ring added.

Partygoers clutched their copies of “Wind” and leafed through a library calendar that detailed all of the upcoming February events associated with LO Reads.

Tango lessons. Discussions. Sangria. Spanish coffees. The list goes on.

Aurora Smith, whose father Manuel was born in Spain, looks forward to attending a cooking class or two.

Smith and her husband Jerry arrived at the party without much information about the book. Now, they plan to read it together.

“I like anything related to Spain,” she said.

This is the first year that the library has implemented such a citywide event. If it’s a success, officials plan to continue it next year with a different book, which the community may choose.

“I think it would be very popular because LO Library has a lot of support,” said book club member Hilary Johnson.

A similar program — One Book, One Community — was started by the Seattle Public Library in 1998, and other cities around the country — including Portland and Eugene — have started similar programs.

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