‘Eyre Affair’ libraries’ choice read

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BANGOR – “The Eyre Affair” is a fantasy, don’t you think? A bit Harry Potterian and all that with a heroine named Thursday Next?

Myself, I find it a clever detective story, one which keeps me wondering how the “Martin Chuzzlewit” manuscript could possibly have been stolen in just minutes, if not seconds, from the Dickens Museum at Gad’s Hill.

Literary connoisseurs might point out, of course, that there’s no real way to kidnap a beloved fictional character such as Jane Eyre, but time will tell.

Indeed, time tells a lot in Jasper Fforde’s “The Eyre Affair,” chosen as this year’s Penobscot Reads book to help us all “survive January.”

Join your neighbors in reading “The Eyre Affair,” then turn out for discussions and special activities at Bangor Public Library.

Fforde’s debut novel launches Special Operative Thursday Next into a series of books. Here is the schedule of Penobscot Reads activities at Bangor Public Library:

. University of Maine Professor Naomi Jacobs will discuss “Jane Eyre and the Victorian Tradition” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, in the Lecture Hall.

. University of Maine Professor and science fiction author Henry Garfield will talk about writing and creating new worlds at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, in the Lecture Hall.

. At 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, take part in the Bangor Public Library’s “Jeopardy Tournament.” The winner will take part in an interlibrary Jeopardy championship at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, Bangor Public Library.

. A free film, “Call,” will be shown at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16. Call or come into the library for details.

. University of Maine Professor Marge Irvine will lead a discussion of “The Eyre Affair” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, in the Lecture Hall

. Croquet in January? A croquet tournament for BPL patrons will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, in the Reading Room. The winner will represent the library in the final interlibrary tournament on Jan. 31.

. Join a discussion of science fiction with Alex Irvine at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, in the Lecture Hall.

. A film night will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23.

. The public is invited to attend a book discussion of “The Eyre Affair” with library staff at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26.

. Discuss “Warfare in Crimea” with local history librarian Bill Cook at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, in the Lecture Hall.

. The finale of the “Jeopardy Tournament” will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, in the Lecture Hall.

. A film night will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30.

. The croquet tournament finale is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, in the Reading Room.

The library staff is looking forward to sharing “The Eyre Affair” with everyone. Pick up weekly crossword puzzles and calendars at the library. Join your neighbors in reading.

Bangor Reads began in 2002, with the program expanding to Penobscot Reads in 2007. Orono, Edythe Dyer in Hampden and Fogler Library at the University of Maine are now partners in the community reading event.

Penobscot Reads activities at other libraries will include:

. “Jeopardy Tournament” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at Edythe Dyer Library in Hampden.

. Croquet game for Orono and University of Maine patrons at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at Orono Public Library. For information, call 866-5060.

. “Literary Trivia Jeopardy Tournament” for Orono and University of Maine patrons at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, at Orono Public Library. Call 866-5060 for information.

. Croquet tournament at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, at Edythe Dyer Library in Hampden.

Previous titles in the Bangor Reads and Penobscot Reads programs were:

. 2002, “Killer Angels,” by Michael Shaara.

. 2003, “The Maine Woods,” by Henry David Thoreau.

. 2004, “Life of Pi,” by Yann Martel.

. 2005, “On Writing,” by Stephen King.

. 2006, “Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy,” by Gary D. Schmidt.

. 2007, “Papa Martel,” by Gerard Robichaud.