One Book, One Tuam Library

Author Marilyn Taylor visited Tuam Library on Thursday, the 28th of February and Friday the 1st of March. Her book, Faraway Home was this year’s choice of book for ‘One Book, One Tuam’.
The book is about two Jewish children, Karl and Rosa, who are sent from Vienna to Northern Ireland in 1938, as part of the Kindertransport, to ensure their safety. There they have to adapt to a very different community and way of life, and when Belfast is bombed, they are made aware that war is never far away. With the help of other local children they learn that out of conflict and despair extraordinary friendships can grow.
Speaking to over 300 children over the two days, Marilyn told those present that she had very much drawn on her own life story and family background to inform her writing. ‘One Book, One Tuam’ is an annual community reading project, now in its fourth successive year, the aims of which are to improve literacy, promote reading for pleasure and to encourage a deeper sense of community. It is fully supported by local schools, training facilities and businesses.