Roanoke Valley Reads is a month away, so it’s a great time to purchase and read a copy of Paul Kalanithi’s When Breath Becomes Air. The book is available at the Blue Ridge Literacy offices on the lower level of Roanoke’s Main Library.
Here are some of the events being planned:
Thursday, Oct. 12, 7 PM, Hollins Chapel: Death and the Faith-Based Community. A panel with scholar representatives from Islam, Judaism, Mainline Protestant Christianity, Evangelical Christianity, Catholicism, and Buddhism will discuss how their faith traditions and doctrines deal with death and dying.
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2 PM, Richfield: When Breath Becomes Air, a discussion for the Retirement Community. Book clubs from Richfield, Brandon Oaks, The Glebe, Peasant Ridge, Friendship Manor, and several other retirement communities will discuss how the book speaks to their individual understanding of death and informs the meaning of life.
Wednesday, Nov. 1, 7 PM, Roanoke Main Library: Death and Dying—the Truth That Cannot Be Denied. A panel of patients and healthcare professionals, including Carilion’s Dr. Thomas Milam, local hospice chaplains, and hospice patients discuss knowledge of death and how it affects an understanding of life.
Friday, Nov. 3, 7 PM, Taubman: Death and the Medical Community. The medical community, including students of Jefferson College and Virginia Tech-Carilion Medical School, will discuss how a physician’s humanity and mortality informs his or her practice of healing.
Wednesday, Nov. 8, 7 PM, Grandin Theatre: Wit screening with Q & A. The Mike Nichols film is based on Margaret Edson’s award-winning play about a professor dealing with her terminal cancer. The Q & A will explore themes of the film, how knowledge of death affects life, and what we do with the fact of our mortality.
Keep track of additional events and get updates at the website: www.roanokevalleyreads.com. ★
BOOK CITY ★ Roanoke 