All are invited to participate in River Forest Reads, a shared reading experience for members of the community to read and discuss the same book. In honor of its 100th anniversary, F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is our River Forest Reads pick for 2025. Whether you're revisiting this American classic or coming to it for the first time, we encourage everyone to read the book together and attend a series of related programs. Brought to you in partnership with River Forest Township.
Copies of the book will be available for checkout starting September 8, and programming continues through October 19.
Special Events
Writing Gatsby on Sunday, 9/14 at 2 PM
To kick off River Forest Reads, the Library welcomes William Hazelgrove, author of Writing Gatsby: The Real Story of the Writing of the Greatest American Novel, to talk about how this monumental novel came to be written. It's a behind-the-scenes story of heartbreak, infidelity, struggle, alcoholism, financial hardship, and a writer’s perseverance in circumstances that would have crushed others.
A Portrayal of Zelda Fitzgerald on Sunday, 9/28 at 2 PM
Storyteller and author Lynn Rymarz, known for her first-person portrayals of historical women, joins us to perform as Zelda Fitzgerald — the wife of Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald and an enduring symbol of flapper culture among Jazz Age women. Hear about their love story, how they rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, and how Zelda haunted her husband's famous fiction. Discover how she found a passion in dancing, her notoriety as The First Flapper, and her own work as an accomplished writer and painter.
Community Book Discussion on Thursday, 10/9 at 7 PM
After you've read the book, come chat about The Great Gatsby at this librarian-led book discussion. It's a chance to voice your thoughts on the novel and hear what your neighbors have to say about it. Refreshments will be served. Registration encouraged. Register to receive a free giveaway copy of The Great Gatsby in a deluxe hardcover edition, available at the second-floor desk while supplies last.
The Roaring Twenties on Film on Sunday, 10/12 at 2 PM
Aside from The Great Gatsby, what else was going on in American culture during the 1920s? For one thing, the silent film era was at its peak — and the transition to talkies was right around the corner. Dr. Annette Bochenek, film scholar of Hollywood's Golden Age, returns to the Library to discuss the early film industry of the 1920s, some of its top stars, technological innovations, and influential films. This is a multimedia presentation consisting of photos, video clips, and captivating stories.
The Great Gatsby Movie Screening on Thursday, 10/16 at 6 PM
Now that you've read and discussed The Great Gatsby, come watch the 2013 movie version starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby. Refreshments will be served.
Vintage Jazz Ensemble Concert on Sunday, 10/19 at 2 PM
We're closing the book on River Forest Reads with a lively concert by the Vintage Jazz Ensemble, who will play the sounds of the roaring twenties. The event will also include a round of Great Gatsby trivia, with the chance to win some prizes. Dressing up in 1920s-style garb is optional but encouraged!