Westporters love to read.
Hardbacks, paperbacks, e-books, audiobooks; fiction, non-fiction, mystery, horro; popular, obscure — you name it, we devour it.
There is pleasure in enjoying a book by ourselves: on a couch or car, in bed or at the beach.
But there is something to be said too for reading, and discussing, a book with others.
That’s why there are book clubs.
It’s also why, for nearly 25 years, the Westport Library has sponsored WestportREADS.
Hernan Diaz
The idea is simple. The staff picks one volume. They make it available in a variety of formats. Then they organize a variety of events around it, for an immersive, month-long community experience.
The 2025 WestportREADS selection is Pulitzer Prize-winner Hernan Díaz’s “In the Distance.” It’s about a young Swedish immigrant who travels east from California in search of his brother, moving on foot against the great current of emigrants pushing west.
Driven back again and again, he meets naturalists, criminals, religious fanatics, swindlers, Native Americans and lawmen.
His exploits turn him into a legend. Moving beyond the conventions of historical fiction and genre, Diaz probes stereotypes from our past, and offers “a portrait of radical foreignness.”
But the town won’t simply read “In the Distance.” They can meet the author in person, on February 13.
Meanwhile, throughout January and February, the Library has planned events and programs: discussions, celebrations and more.
It’s a chance to read a great book — one that might otherwise be overlooked — while meeting new people, and learning from them.
Limited copies of the book are available for borrowing now. More copies will arrive in mid-December. It’s also available in e-book and audio formats.
A lecture led by U.S. historian Kris Klein Hernández kicks off the WestportREADS festivities on Thursday, January 16, followed by a film series screening “First Cow,” “The Gold Rush” and “Meek’s Cutoff” on January 17 and 24, and February 7, respectively.
Discussion groups are scheduled for January and February. A Book Pub at Walrus Alley on February 4 is another special event.
“In the Distance” was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award. It was also a Publishers Weekly Top 10 Book of the Year, and one of Lit Hub’s 20 Best Novels of the Decade.
For past WestportREADS selections, click here.
Good write up, Dan. Hope it garners big support for WestportREADS. Nice chatting with you about this book and NNW book group. Happy Holidays!
WestportREADS is such a great community program – many thanks (again) to all involved!