Killer reads

Posted on by Ginger Park

Be in-the-know by joining the 2Book Topeka community read. With 2Book Topeka we are hosting book discussions and events three times a year around two books on a theme. Our fall 2017 theme is psychological thriller featuring two historical books about serial killers in the 1890s.

2Book Topeka is encouraging our community of readers to read the same two books and discuss them.

Start Reading

Book #1: The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
While the 1893 World’s Fair ushered in a new epoch in American history, a serial killer operated “The World’s Fair Hotel.”

Book #2: The Alienist by Caleb Carr
When a madman begins stalking victims on the streets of 1896 New York, a team of investigators applies radical and untested techniques that include fingerprinting and the controversial science of psychology.

Both books are available for checkout at the library, on bookmobiles and online.

Events

2Book Topeka Art Exhibit
Oct 1 – Nov 12
See what debuted at the 1893 World’s Fair that is still popular today and what the time period looked like in Chicago, New York and Kansas in the Alice C. Sabatini Gallery.

Book Discussion of The Devil in the White City, Oct 24, 2-4pm

Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer
Oct 29, 3-5pm
Roy Wenzl is a freelance writer, photographer and author of Bind, Torture, Kill: The Inside Story of the Serial Killer Next Door. The former Wichita Eagle reporter will discuss the psychology of serial killers, specifically BTK.

Book Discussion of The Alienist
Nov 2, 7-8:45pm

Death in the Afternoon
Nov 5, 1-2pm
See Tanya Walsh and Valerie Reif’s multimedia presentation highlighting the historical people and events referenced in The Devil in the White City and The Alienist.

Crime Scene Competition
Nov 10, 5:30-8:30pm
Teams of four will test their sleuthing skills at the library’s crime scenes in a timed competition. Prizes will be awarded to the top finishing teams.

Book Discussion of both books
Nov 12, 2-4pm

As the library’s communications editor Ginger helps spread the word about all the amazing library resources, services and staff. She loves reading fiction and is working to keep her To Be Read list under 100. Ginger is also a volunteer at Helping Hands Humane Society.