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Exploring Identity, Love, & Being Black

Conversation with Award-Winning Author Jason Mott

2024-02-20 15:00:00 2024-02-20 16:00:00 America/Chicago Exploring Identity, Love, & Being Black Join us as we talk to New York Times bestselling author Jason Mott about his recent novel Hell of a Book. Please register for link to Zoom. Virtual -

Tuesday, February 20
3:00pm - 4:00pm

Join us as we talk to New York Times bestselling author Jason Mott about his recent novel Hell of a Book. Please register for link to Zoom.

You’re invited to join us as we talk to New York Times bestselling author Jason Mott about his recent novel Hell of a Book. This magnificent work of fiction is deeply honest, at times electrically funny, and is a book that goes to the heart of racism, police violence, and the hidden costs exacted upon Black Americans and America as a whole.

In Hell of a Book, a Black author sets out on a cross-country publicity tour to promote his bestselling novel. That storyline drives Hell of a Book and is the scaffolding of something much larger and more urgent: Mott’s novel also tells the story of Soot, a young Black boy living in a rural town in the recent past, and The Kid, a possibly imaginary child who appears to the author on his tour.

As these characters’ stories build and converge, they astonish. While this heartbreaking and magical book entertains and is at once about family, love of parents and children, art and money, it’s also about the nation’s reckoning with a tragic police shooting playing over and over again on the news. And with what it can mean to be Black in America.

Unforgettably told, with an electrifying plot and characters who burn into your mind, Hell of a Book is the novel Mott has been writing in his head for the last ten years. And in its final twists, it truly becomes its title. Register now!

About the Author: Jason Mott is the author of two poetry collections and four novels. His first novel, The Returned, was adapted for television and aired on ABC under the title Resurrection. Since then, his novels that followed have received various accolades and acclaim. His most recent novel, Hell of a Book, won the Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction Winner, was a Carnegie Medals For Excellence Longlist nominee, and the winner of the 2021 National Book Award for Fiction. He lives in hermitude in Southeastern North Carolina.

Please Register for link to program.



Live Virtual Author Talks - This new series through Library Speakers Consortium offers live online talks by bestselling authors of books in a variety of genres. Participants receive a link to the program when they register. Please see https://libraryc.org/gailborden to register and also view recorded videos of past speakers.

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Virtual | Adult Programs |

TAGS: | |

Virtual

Phone: 847-742-2411

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About the Branch

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Upcoming Events

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Mon, Aug 17, 10:00am - 11:00am
South Elgin Branch - South Elgin - Hoffer Meeting Room
Everyone is welcome to join us!

Mon, Aug 17, 10:00am - 11:00am
Main Library - Story Room
Play is the work of childhood! Visit the library to play and learn together with your child and connect with other families and local child development experts. Register for any or all sessions.
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Mon, Aug 17, 11:30am - 4:30pm
Main Library - Sally Lee Fox & Eagle Rooms
Come sew with fellow Singer Featherweight machine users, make new friends, learn new tips and tricks. Please bring your own machine and supplies. Ideas & suggestions offered Registration Recommended

Mon, Aug 17, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Main Library - Lobby - Piano
Piano performance in the lobby by volunteer community member.

Mon, Aug 17, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Main Library - Grove Room
Opportunity to practice your Spanish in an informal setting led by our Volunteer Facilitator, Renee Ritzel. Please Register.
Registration opens Monday, August 17 2026 at 12:00pm

Mon, Aug 17, 3:00pm - 3:45pm
Mobile Services
3 Times Square Rd, Elgin, IL 60120

Mon, Aug 17, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Mobile Services
1075 Annandale Dr. Elgin

Mon, Aug 17, 4:45pm - 5:45pm
Mobile Services
1900 College Green Dr. Elgin

Mon, Aug 17, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Main Library - 2nd Floor - Behind Elevators
Join fellow chess players of all ages and skill levels on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month for this open play program! Chess sets will be provided.

Mon, Aug 17, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Mobile Services
725 Red Barn Ln. Elgin

Mon, Aug 17, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Main Library - Grove Room
¿Quiera iniciar su propio negocio pero no sabe por dónde empezar? Únase a nuestros talleres gratuitos y aprenderá herramientas reales con Fernando Adorno, experto en negocios locales.

Mon, Aug 17, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Main Library - Computer Training Room
In this series, learn how to use Microsoft Excel to manipulate, format, and organize numbers and other types of data. Sponsored by Comcast Internet Essentials.
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Tue, Aug 18, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Main Library - Meadows Community Rooms ABC
¡El Consulado de México visita la biblioteca! Expedición de pasaportes, matrícula consular y credencial para votar. Para hacer una cita puede llamar al 1(424)-309-0009 o visite citas.sre.gob.mx

Tue, Aug 18, 10:00am - 12:00pm
In The Community
Create a personalized lanyard, bag charm , or keychain! Whether you're heading back to the classroom, the office, or just love crafting, join us for a relaxing morning of fun at Churros & Chocolate.
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Tue, Aug 18, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Main Library - Lobby - Piano
Piano performance in the lobby by volunteer community members.

Tue, Aug 18, 10:30am - 12:00pm
Main Library - Computer Training Room
Learn about the basics of where files are saved and how to access them and move them around.

Tue, Aug 18, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Main Library - Sally Lee Fox & Eagle Rooms
Calling all Pokémon fans, from beginners to experienced! Let's explore and have fun with Pokémon together! Registration required.
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Tue, Aug 18, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Main Library - Grove Room
Complete a hands-on volunteer project that benefits the library or one of our community outreach initiatives. Teen volunteers must complete the teen volunteer orientation before participating.
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Tue, Aug 18, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Mobile Services
Southwicke Dr. & Monarch Dr. Streamwood

Tue, Aug 18, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Main Library - Grove Room
Complete a hands-on volunteer project that benefits the library or one of our community outreach initiatives. Teen volunteers must complete the teen volunteer orientation before participating.
Registration is now closed

Tue, Aug 18, 4:45pm - 5:45pm
Mobile Services
132 Buckskin Ln. Streamwood

Tue, Aug 18, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Main Library - Conference Room
Prospective applicants to become Elgin‘s 4th Poet Laureate are invited to attend this two session workshop given by Poet Laureate Emeritus Gareth Mann. Registration is required & space is limited.

Tue, Aug 18, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Main Library - Grove Room
Participantes de nivel intermedio, practican conversaciones en inglés, adquieren confianza y mejoran su pronunciación. El grupo es liderado por un tutor de Literacy Connection. Favor registrarse
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Tue, Aug 18, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Mobile Services
5400 McDonough Rd. Hoffman Estates