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History Book Club

2025-03-24 18:00:00 2025-03-24 20:00:00 America/New_York History Book Club Monthly meeting on the fourth Monday of the month. Books are available to pick up at the Service Desk; new comers are always welcome. Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room

Monday, March 24
6:00pm - 8:00pm

Add to Calendar 2025-03-24 18:00:00 2025-03-24 20:00:00 America/New_York History Book Club Monthly meeting on the fourth Monday of the month. Books are available to pick up at the Service Desk; new comers are always welcome. Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room

Monthly meeting on the fourth Monday of the month. Books are available to pick up at the Service Desk; new comers are always welcome.

Graveyard of the Pacific : shipwreck and survival on America's deadliest waterway by Randall Sullivan

A vivid portrait of the Columbia River Bar that combines maritime history, adventure journalism, and memoir, bringing alive the history—and present—of one of the most notorious stretches of water in the world.

Off the coast of Oregon, the Columbia River flows into the Pacific Ocean and forms the Columbia River Bar: a watery collision so turbulent and deadly that it’s nicknamed the Graveyard of the Pacific.

Two thousand ships have been wrecked on the bar since the first European ship dared to try to cross it in the late 18thcentury. For decades ships continued to make the bar crossing with great peril, first with native guides and later with opportunistic newcomers, as Europeans settled in Washington and Oregon, displacing the natives and transforming the river into the hub of a booming region. Since then, the commercial importance of the Columbia River has only grown, and despite the construction of jetties on either side, the bar remains treacherous, even today a site of shipwrecks and dramatic rescues as well as power struggles between small fishermen, powerful shipowners, local communities in Washington and Oregon, the Coast Guard, and the Columbia River Bar Pilots – a small group of highly skilled navigators who help guide ships through the mouth of the Columbia.

When Randall Sullivan and a friend set out to cross the bar in a two-man kayak, they’re met with skepticism and concern. But on a clear day in July 2021, when the tides and weather seem right, they embark. As they plunge through the currents that have taken so many lives, Randall commemorates the brave sailors that made the crossing before him – including his own abusive father, a sailor himself who also once dared to cross the bar – and reflects on toxic masculinity, fatherhood, and what drives men to extremes.

AGE GROUP: | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | History & Genealogy | Book group |

Wilbraham Public Library

Phone: 413-596-6141

Hours

Today's hours

We're open 9:00AM to 5:00PM

Mon, May 05 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, May 06 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, May 07 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, May 08 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Fri, May 09 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sat, May 10 9:00AM to 2:00PM
Sun, May 11 Closed

About the branch

The Wilbraham Public Library provides resources and opportunities for community learning, recreation, and making connections.

Upcoming Events

Thu, May 08, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
The annual book Sale of the Wilbraham Friends of the Library.

Fri, May 09, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
The annual book Sale of the Wilbraham Friends of the Library.

Sat, May 10, 9:00am - 1:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
The annual book Sale of the Wilbraham Friends of the Library.

Mon, May 12, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Let your teen voice be heard! Help the Teen Librarian design the best programs for teens, and recommend YA books and more for the teen Loft.

Mon, May 12, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
With a box full of classic films and musical scores, pianist Richard Hughes adds a third dimension of mood music to the very best films of the Golden Age of Silent Movies.

Mon, May 12, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Virtual
Author Heather Wolf discusses how to find migrating birds and witness their fascinating behaviors, as well as cue into birds that will be breeding and raising young in your area.
Register

Tue, May 13, 9:30am - 10:30am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Storytime curriculum and themed play activities.

Tue, May 13, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
The daytime monthly book discussion group facilitated by Library Director Karen Ball. New members always welcome!

Tue, May 13, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
The monthly meeting of the Wilbraham Friends of the Library.

Wed, May 14, 10:00am - 11:00am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Join Lisa Katz for preschool yoga!

Wed, May 14, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Learn how to search Ancestry Library Edition to find more information about your family history in this hands-on program.
This event is full

Wed, May 14, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Grab your popcorn, grab your friend, and join us for an propulsive online conversation with author Liann Zhang as she chats with us about her debut thriller, Julie Chan is Dead. 
Register

Thu, May 15, 3:30pm - 4:15pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
May book selection - Geronimo Stilton Graphic Novel The Sewer Rat Stink by Tom Angleberger
This event is full

Fri, May 16, 10:30am - 11:30am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Social-emotional skill building!
This event is full

Sat, May 17, 9:00am - 12:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library
WFOL will sell plants outside the library.

Mon, May 19, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Travel expert Matt Davis will discuss why people choose to live in risky places, as well as natural disasters and their economic impacts, social disruption, and effects on our infrastructure.

Tue, May 20, 9:30am - 10:30am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Storytime curriculum and themed play activities.

Tue, May 20, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
The monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Wed, May 21, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Virtual
Judy Blume's books have garnered fans of all ages & sold tens of millions of copies. In The Genius of Judy, author Rachelle Bergstein takes an expansive look at Blume’s life, work, & cultural impact.
Register

Wed, May 21, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
A monthly book discussion facilitated by Assistant Director Mary Bell. Newcomers are always welcome!

Fri, May 23, 10:30am - 11:30am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Social-emotional skill building!
This event is full

Tue, May 27, 9:30am - 10:30am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Storytime curriculum and themed play activities.

Tue, May 27, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library
Castle Nitor will teach a fun lesson on German Long Sword to teens.

Wed, May 28, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Led by Jessica Magill For questions, contact Jessica: jessicammagill@hotmail.com

Fri, May 30, 10:30am - 11:30am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Social-emotional skill building!
This event is full

Sat, May 31, 10:00am - 11:00am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Bubbles, bubbles, and more bubbles!

Mon, Jun 02, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Monthly meeting on the fourth Monday of the month. Books are available to pick up at the Service Desk; new comers are always welcome.

Tue, Jun 03, 9:30am - 10:30am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Storytime curriculum and themed play activities.

Tue, Jun 03, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
The daytime monthly book discussion group facilitated by Library Director Karen Ball. New members always welcome!

Wed, Jun 04, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Virtual
Smithsonian scientists highlight information found in the Smithsonian’s book, Extinctopedia: Discover what we have lost, what is at risk, and how we can preserve the diversity of our fragile planet.
Register

Wed, Jun 04, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Meets the first Wednesday of every other month. Participants will make and share dishes from the month’s selected cookbook. (Please sign up for the Cookbook Club by Monday, June 2nd. Thank you!)

Thu, Jun 05, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Virtual
Author Alexis Prescott will discuss her recent release, The First Witches: Women of Power in the Classical World, a book which provides a readable overview of how the Western witch originated.
Register

Fri, Jun 06, 10:30am - 11:30am
Wilbraham Public Library - Brooks Room
Build creativity and literacy skills with Ms. Jen!