A book that has themes of bullying, jazz, love, World War II and the relationship between people in China, Japan and the United States has been selected as Tiffin-Seneca Public Library's Community Wide Read book this year.
Debby Roszman, community relations coordinator at the library, said "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jamie Ford is a timeless book.
"It is a great book. ... It's very uplifting. It's a good, positive book that deals with a lot of tough subjects," she said.
Roszman said, at 290 pages, it is a longer book, but once a reader gets into it, he gets hooked and can't put it down.
She said the book is written from the perspective of a young boy and explains his first friendship, his experience being bullied and his first love. The boy is innocent and realizes there is a world war going on around him, she said.
"It moves on in time and (explains) how he dealt with it in the end, and what happens to old friends," she said.
In the past, then-Director Karen Culp selected the books used for Community Wide Read. Roszman said she did a great job, and officials didn't know what to do when she retired. They needed more input, so they asked the staff to help, she said.
"We have changed things up this year. ... We went with the staff pick," she said.
The first event in Community Wide Read is "Jazz Night at the Library" at 7 p.m. Thursday in Adult Reading Room, according to information from the library. Heidelberg University's jazz combo is to play pieces and talk about jazz. Refreshments are to be provided.
The library is to host "From Asia to Tiffin," a panel of Chinese and Japanese students and Americans who are to discuss cultural differences and similarities, at 3 p.m. April 29 in Frost Kalnow Room.
The book discussion is to be 3 p.m. May 6 in Frost Kalnow Room.
Simon Castellucio, Leadership Seneca County's program coordinator, is to lead the discussion, and Roszman said he is enthusiastic about the book.
"I think he'll be really good," she said.
Multiple copies of the book are available for seven-day circulation, and there is a display near the check-out desk. There is to be a drawing for an autographed copy of the book. All events are free.
