GCC students join 'Tale of Three Counties' reading project

Genesee Community College students and faculty members will join "A Tale of Three Counties" - a region-wide reading project - this year.

Through the project, community residents read the same book, Julia Spencer-Fleming's thriller In the Bleak Midwinter, over the next two months. Residents can then gather together for discussions about the book at area libraries and other locations. At Genesee, at least six classes have committed to reading the book and participating in discussion forums, and many more classes will probably participate. Four discussion forums will be held at the Batavia Campus and one at the Lakeville Campus Center.

The project culminates with a March 10 visit to the area by Spencer-Fleming. She will appear at several area public libraries and at Genesee Community College, where students who participated in the project will have the opportunity to hear a presentation about her writing and meet her.

In the Bleak Midwinter has received high critical acclaim and numerous awards, including the Anthony Award, Agatha Award, Macavity Award, Barry Award and was nominated for Mystery Ink's Gumshoe Award for Best First Mystery. The book is a crime thriller, but has been highly acclaimed for the richness of its characters and the inner conflicts posed by the characters.

The book takes place in the mythical town of Miller's Kill in the Adirondack Mountain region. The Rev. Clare Fergusson, an Episcopal priest, has just arrived at the conservative St. Alban's, the town's church. When a newborn baby is found at the church, Rev. Fergusson - a tough, ex-army chopper pilot - joins forces with the town's police chief to learn the baby's identity and mother. What they find is a town full of deep, dark secrets.

GCC plans to launch an online bulletin board where students and community residents can post comments about the book, and engage in online discussion.