Rhode Island Center for the Book at Providence Public Library
Rhode Island Center for the Book at Providence Public Library Announces the 2011 Reading Across Rhode Island Title
The Unforgiving Minute
PROVIDENCE, RI – Follow the life journey of Rhode Island native Craig Mullaney in the riveting memoir, The Unforgiving Minute, this year’s selection for Reading Across Rhode Island 2011.
Co-Chairs the Honorable United States Senator Jack Reed and Providence Journal Reporter Mike Stanton join the Rhode Island Center for the Book at PPL in announcing the 2011 title in this, the 9th year of the statewide read project. Senator Reed has been a strong advocate for libraries for many years and most recently sponsored the Museum and Library Services Act of 2010, which was passed unanimously and signed into law by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in December. Mike Stanton leads the investigative team at The Providence Journal. He is a Pulitzer Prize-winner and author of the recent bestseller The Prince of Providence.
About This Year’s Book
The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier’s Education is the account of a soldier, a scholar and a warrior engaged in a remarkable journey. The Unforgiving Minute also offers the reader a wistful and earnest understanding of a hometown boy, working man’s son, brother, friend, husband and leader. Craig Mullaney paints a compelling and evocative coming of age narrative, reminding the reader about what a miraculous thing a good novel is and how enlightening the experience of reading can be. Mullaney’s determined quest is to integrate his memories while addressing patriotism, control, and the complicated nature of duty, war, and fate. And in doing so, he reminds the reader of the quality of the United States military stationed in Afghanistan and throughout the world, and of what it means to be American—and free.
About the Author
Craig Mullaney has lived in many worlds — Rhode Island, West Point, Oxford University, Afghanistan, and Washington D.C. The oldest of four in a working class family from North Kingstown, Rhode Island, Mullaney learned responsibility at an early age from his mother a pediatric nurse, and his father, a crew chief at the gas company. At Bishop Hendricken High School, Craig gained a strong academic education, discipline studded with extreme physical demands at West Point and Ranger School and was immersed in dialogue and debate at Oxford as a Rhodes scholar. All of his abilities were tested when he was sent to Afghanistan in 2003 as the leader of an infantry rifle platoon. Losing one of his soldiers in combat, Mullaney agonized over the events surrounding that “unforgiving minute.”
In April 2010, Craig Mullaney was appointed senior advisor at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a foreign assistance agency. Craig’s position focuses on Afghanistan & Pakistan, assisting in developing infrastructure in support of the government. Mullaney and his wife, Dr. Meena Seshamani, live in Maryland and recently welcomed the arrival of a baby boy, Arjun Mullaney.
Reading Across RI Preview Party
January 27—East Providence Public Library, 7 – 9 pm
Teachers, librarians and book group leaders are invited to attend the free RARI Preview Party kicking off this year’s program. Designed to give book group leaders an introduction to the book and the resources and materials to develop an interesting discussion, attendees will participate in a lively gathering including speakers, music, and a preview performance of Living Literature’s adaption of The Unforgiving Minute.
R. I. General Treasurer and Rhodes Scholar, Gina Raimondo and Honorary Co-chair Mike Stanton will speak at the East Providence Library Preview on January 27. All participants will receive a free copy of the book. Those wishing to attend the preview should register with Louise Moulton: lmoulton@provlib.org or call 401-455-8134.
Other Planned Events: The Living Literature performances are available for scheduling at schools and libraries statewide, by contacting www.livingliterature.org. Craig Mullaney has agreed to be the Keynote Speaker at the annual Reading Across RI Author Breakfast at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet on April 30 and will present to students around the state through the student videoconference on April 29, sponsored by RI Network for Educational Technology (RINET). Registration forms for the Breakfast will be available on the Reading Across Rhode Island web site mid-February: www.readingacrossri.org.
Reading Across Rhode Island is a project of the Rhode Island Center for the Book at Providence Public Library. The 2011 project is sponsored by Fidelity Investments, Reading with Robin, Newport Federal, Penguin Books and RI Network for EducationalTechnology.
Further reading lists, book discussion guides, the author’s website, audio interviews and other supplementary material may be found on the RARI website: www.readingacrossri.org or in print available by contacting Louise Moulton at 455-8134, lmoulton@provlib.org.
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Tonia Mason
Marketing & Communications Director
Providence Public Library
150 Empire Street, Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-455-8090; Fax: 401-455-8001
Email: tmason@provlib.org
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