The author of what’s been called “the perfect summer read” will visit Oconto Falls Saturday for a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Oconto County’s six libraries.
The inaugural Oconto County Reads program has been organized by the public libraries in Gillett, Lakewood, Lena, Oconto, Oconto Falls and Suring, in conjunction with the Oconto County Library Services Board. The summer event will climax with a presentation by June Melby, author of the 2013 book “My Family and Other Hazards: A Memoir,” at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Falls Area Performing Arts Center at Oconto Falls High School.
“It’s going to be a fun night,” said Oconto Falls Library Director Joan Denis.
This event is free and open to everyone.
Here’s the book in a nutshell: When Melby was 10 years old, her parents decided on a whim to buy Tom Thumb mini golf course near Waupaca where they vacationed every summer. What followed was a 30 year love/hate relationship with the charming American pastime that robbed Melby of her summer freedom and turned out to be far more work than anyone in the family of five could have anticipated. As the clock ticks on her last summer at the course, Melby reflects on what it meant to her both as a child and an adult, the simpler era that it represents, and the particular growing pains of losing your childhood home.
The book is organized into 18 chapters, one for each hole on the mini golf course. The chapters are named by the hazard, including “The Windmill,” and “The Weird Blue Pipe Thing,” located on each green. After a description of the hazard and how to best approach the hole, there’s a corresponding life lesson incorporating family stories and the challenges of running Tom Thumb.
Melby, a former stand-up comedian, has a reputation as an engaging and humorous speaker. She was highly recommended by libraries in the Fox Cities after she appeared at the Fox City Reads festival. Denis said she’s part way through the book and is excited to hear Melby speak.
“How many people grew up on a miniature golf course?” Denis said. “In that respect, it’s very different.”
Even people who have not read the book are encouraged to attend the program. Nearly everyone has experience with mini golf and can relate to the coming-of-age story and the nostalgia of summer time as a kid.
“Many area readers will relate to the story of endless summers spent by the lake,” said Gillett Library Director Kay Rankel. “It’s a perfect summer read!”
Rankel said the library directors organized Oconto Reads as a way to bring the Oconto County community together and to promote reading and public libraries. The six Oconto County libraries promoted the book during their summer reading programs, and many libraries chose the book for their book club selections during the summer.
“We hope to expand upon this event in the future and have already discussed future authors to feature for an all-county Reads event in 2017,” Rankel said.
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