More than 250 people showed up on Monday night, June 20 to hear author Julie Orringer speak about her book The Invisible Bridge. Chosen by the Authors @ GNL Committee as our 2011 Great Neck Reads choice, it clearly touched a chord with the many people who read it.
The story centers on Andras, a young Hungarian who arrives from Budapest in Paris to study architecture on a scholarship and the way his life is affected not only by the people he meets in Paris but how his life and that of his brothers is disrupted by the War and the Holocaust. During her talk Julie told the audience how the book began as a story that Julie's grandfather told her about his own experiences as a young architecture student in Paris.
Julie spoke movingly and eloquently about the impact her own family's story had on her and the influences it had on her writing of the book. She also spoke about the extensive research that went into its writing which lead to such an air of authenticity in the book.
After her talk, Julie graciously talked to the many audience members who wanted to share their own family stories and signed many books for the audience members who patiently stood on line waiting for their chance to meet her.
It was a singular evening and while it was a bit cramped and uncomfortable, the audience was clearly moved by the book and the author's appearance. And after all, isn't that what libraries are all about? They are here not just to store books, but to make the connection between author and reader as well as book and reader. Those connections are what make us all stronger.
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