Ruth Suckow Celebration
Bookin’ It
Bookin’ It, book club, will kick off the celebration with a discussion of “Country People” on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 6:00 pm. This beloved novel, first published in 1924, explores the life of a married couple living on a farm in rural Iowa. Its themes of community, isolation, and resilience offer a timeless portrayal of Iowa’s agricultural heartland. Readers are invited to join the conversation and reflect on how Suckow’s depiction of rural life resonates with contemporary readers.
Ruth Suckow Traveling Exhibit
From January 13, 2025, to February 9, 2025, the library will host the Ruth Suckow Traveling Exhibit, presented by the Ruth Suckow Memorial Association and supported by Humanities Iowa. This exhibit offers a deep dive into Suckow’s life and literary career, featuring archival materials, photographs, and insights into her writing process. It provides an excellent opportunity for community members to learn more about one of Iowa’s most beloved writers.
Friends Annual Meeting
On Thursday, January 16, 2025, at 6:00 pm at the Friends Annual Meeting, Dr. Michael Hustedde, a noted expert on Ruth Suckow and a faculty member at St. Ambrose University, will give a special presentation to accompany the exhibit. Dr. Hustedde will discuss the enduring relevance of Suckow’s work and offer a closer look at her portrayal of rural Iowa in “Country People” and her other novels. This event is free and open to the public.
Reader’s Theater of “A Great Mollie”
In addition to the exhibit and discussion, Drake Community Library will present a Reader’s Theater performance of Suckow’s short story “A Great Mollie” on Tuesday January 28, 2025 at 7 pm. Member of the GHS Thespian Troupe will be directed by Jenny Flinspach, this live performance will bring one of Suckow’s most poignant short stories to life, offering a unique and immersive way to experience her literary voice.
Learn more about Ruth Suckow’s Legacy
Drake Community Library is proud to celebrate Ruth Suckow’s enduring literary legacy with these special events. All events are free and open to the public, and we encourage everyone in the community to participate in the centenary celebrations of this important Iowa author. Additional information about Suckow’s life and work is available on the Local History website.
Game Night
Join us on the first Monday of each month for games!
Bookin' It @ the Drake
Join us for our bi-monthly book discussion. New readers are always welcome to attend. Both non-fiction and fiction titles are chosen. The library purchases several copies of each title for general circulation so that anyone wanting to participate may do so. Ebook, eaudiobook and large print versions may be available.
You can call us at 641-236-2661 or email library@grinnelliowa.gov to be added to the email list to receive a reminder for the meeting.
Country People by Ruth Suckow
Discussion on Thursday, January 9th, 2025 at 7 pm
2024 marks the centennial anniversary of the publication of the book, which depicts a timeless portrayal of rural life in Iowa. The author, Ruth Suckow, is a distinguished alumna of Grinnell High School’s Class of 1910, embarked on a remarkable literary journey that left a lasting imprint on American literature.
New readers are always welcome to Bookin’ It @ the Drake. Questions? Call 641-236-2661. If you are a person with a disability who requires special assistance, you are also encouraged to call the library in advance of the program.
Winter Reading Challenge
December 1 to February 28
Complete activities and track the days you meet your personal reading goal to fill in a bingo card. You’ll earn prizes for getting your first bingo and for blacking out your bingo card! Download the Beanstack app to your mobile device or sign up on our Beanstack site.
Book Nerd Challenge
Can you read twenty books in a year? How about forty? Maybe even sixty? What if they had to fill specific categories? Register for DCL Book Nerd to see how many categories you can fill in our year-long reading challenge! Register on the Beanstack website or download the mobile app to your device.
Bucket Courses
Join us for a series of weekly classes explores specific topics taught by experts in their fields, including Grinnell College professors, medical professionals, and career scientists. Topics have included history, psychiatry, music, science, biotechnology, philosophy, theatre, astronomy, religion, and classics.
The courses are held from 10-11:30 pm on each Wednesday morning during two semester-like terms. The fall term begins in September and ends in November or December; the spring term begins in January and ends in May. The classes are held in the Caulkins Community Room. No registration necessary. Free will donations appreciated.
For recordings of past courses and a list of current ones go to the Bucket Course website.