Book Club
Book Club – Johnston County Library
Engage in a book discussion with the Johnston County Library at 6:30 PM, Thursday, July 3rd. Conversation, fellowship, and refreshments will be centered on popular book titles for adults to discuss. Participants will share views on “The Queen of Sugar Hill” by Reshonda Tate.
Hattie McDaniel’s career highlight came in 1940 when she became the first African-American woman to win an Academy Award for her role as Mammy in “Gone With the Wind”. While the win was historic, it led to personal struggles; she encountered the Oscar curse, finding it hard to secure work afterward. Caught between the Black and White communities, she faced criticism from both sides—Whites only saw her as Mammy, while Blacks resented the stereotype. Despite the NAACP’s opposition and her own challenges, including four failed marriages, Hattie persisted in her efforts to support fellow African American actors and advocate for war efforts and housing equality, with the help of friends like Clark Gable and Dorothy Dandridge.
This Summer Reading Program is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the ODL.
For more information, or to pick up your copy today, contact the Johnston County Library at (580) 371-3006 or visit us at 116 West Main in Tishomingo. The Johnston County Library is a branch of the Southern Oklahoma Library System.
Book Club – Champion Public Library
Join others at the Champion Public Library for a monthly book club on Thursday, July 3rd at 5:30 PM. Conversation, fellowship, and refreshments will be centered on popular book titles for adults to discuss. This month’s book selection is “Elephant Company” by Vicki Croke.
In 1920, Billy Williams arrived in colonial Burma as a “forest man” for a British teak company and quickly became an “elephant wallah,” captivated by the intelligence of elephants. In “Elephant Company”, Vicki Constantine Croke details his deepening bond with these incredible animals, which taught him about courage, trust, and gratitude. With the onset of World War II and the Japanese invasion in 1942, Williams joined the British Force 136, using his elephants to transport supplies, assist with building bridges, and help the sick and elderly across difficult terrain. As danger escalated, Williams and his elephants embarked on a daring escape across the mountains to India, accompanied by a group of refugees. Part biography, part war epic, “Elephant Company” highlights a remarkable yet overlooked story of heroism during wartime.
The Summer Reading Program is also supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries.
Participants are encouraged to check out the book by visiting the Champion Public Library at 601 Railway Express in Ardmore or call (580) 223-3164. The Champion Public Library is a branch of the Southern Oklahoma Library System.