The 2nd annual ELMHURST READS, co-sponsored by the Friends of the Library, features Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson.

See the list below for the schedule of events or check back here for program updates.

About the Author:
Robert Kurson grew up in the Chicago suburbs. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin, then a law degree from Harvard Law School. He practiced real estate law, but quit to pursue a writing career. To make ends meet, he worked full time as a drapery and window blinds installer, then as a Wal-Mart options trader at the Chicago Board Options Exchange. He was hired by the Chicago Sun-Times as a data entry clerk, a position which led to a full-time features writing job. In 2000, Esquire published “My Favorite Teacher,” his first magazine story, which became a finalist for a National Magazine Award. He moved from the Sun-Times to Chicago magazine, then to Esquire, where he is a contributing editor. His stories have appeared in Rolling Stone, The New York Times Magazine, and other publications. He lives in the Chicago suburbs. Check out Mr. Kurson's web site.

ELMHURST READS: Shadow Divers 2010 Events

All events held in Meeting Room 2 at the Elmhurst Public Library unless otherwise noted
Programs Key: Adults (A) Teens (T) Kids (K)

Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010 Noon-4:00PM (A)
Film screening: Das Boot
In autumn 1941, forty-three young German sailors aboard the U-96 enter the war against Britain. They seek adventure, respect and heroism. For them, this voyage is for glory. For their captain, a seasoned war veteran at the young age of 30, it is a mission against enemy destroyers in a blood-red sea. Nominated for six Oscars, this is an authentic undersea adventure inspired by the actual experiences of a WWII German photojournalist. Rated R. Audience members are welcome to bring a sack lunch or snacks.

Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010 @7:30PM (A) (T)
Book Discussion of The Invention of Curried Sausage by Uwe Timm.
Under the guise of searching for the origins of the popular dish of curried sausage sold on German street stands, the author unravels an emotionally complex tale. Toward the end of the war, a lonely middle aged Hamburg woman hides a German navy man in her apartment. This ordinary woman deals with this handsome young deserter, informers, the black market, and ever greater privations. It is a simply-told tale of evil and passion, kindness and endurance which goes far to reveal 1945 Germany from within.

Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010 @6:30PM (A) (T)
Film screening: Hitler's Lost Sub
NOVA presentation of the true undersea adventure chronicled in the bestseller Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson. In 1991, professional diver John Chatterton discovered a sunken German U-boat from World War II, lying undetected only 60 miles off the New Jersey shore, its unexploded torpedoes and the bodies of its crew still aboard. This intriguing documentary follows Chatterton and his dive partners in their dangerous quest to identify the missing submarine. This film also traces the history of submarines and undersea warfare from the American Revolution through World War II.

Thursday, March 4, 2010 @7:30PM (A) (T)
Ghost Ships: Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes
A treasure trove of maritime history lies hidden beneath the surface of America’s five inland seas. Three hundred years of commerce have left behind a spectral underwater landscape of chaos and disaster unique in the world. From the loss of La Salle’s Le Griffon in 1679 to the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975, the treacherous and icy waters of the Great Lakes have set the stage for unforgettable scenes of terror, human folly, and extraordinary courage. Photojournalist Chris Winters, board member of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, presents a colorful evening of Great Lakes ghost ships, gales and forgotten tales.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 @4:00PM (K)
Children of the Titanic (For grades 2 - 8)
You will be given the role of one of the Titanic survivors as we learn the fascinating stories of the heroic children on board that fateful ship. Pick up your Titanic ticket at the Help Desk starting Saturday, February 27.

Thursday, March 11, 2010 @1:00PM & 7:30PM (A) (T)
Discussion of Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson
Talk about Shadow Divers before meeting the author! In the frigid Atlantic waters sixty miles off the coast of New Jersey, two divers find a sunken German U-boat. Most of the great battles of World War II took place in distant countries on other continents. So how did the submarine’s final resting place end up so perilously close to American soil? Shadow Divers is the true story of two weekend scuba divers who risked everything to discover the truth behind the mysterious ship and the men who died inside it.

Saturday, March 13, 2010 @1:00-2:00PM (K)
Deep Ocean Adventure (For grades 2 - 8)
Dive deep into the ocean in “Alvin,” the submarine that helped find the Titanic. On your way down, watch tiny animals flash their lights in the dark water. See white crabs with no eyes wiggle their legs on rock chimneys. Tectonic plates are sliding apart; volcanoes are erupting; red-and-white tube worms live in water hot enough to boil. This is where the earth’s crust is born and where life on our planet may have begun. Your guide will be Katherine Millett of Elmhurst, a freelance writer who joined a research cruise to the East Pacific Rise in November 2003. She will share pictures and a short film about her 27 days at sea and especially about her amazing day in the submarine. Pick up tickets starting Saturday, March 6 at the Help Desk.

Monday, March 15, 2010 @7:00-8:00PM (K)
Book Discussion: White Star (For grades 3 - 8) Storytime Room
When the Titanic begins to sink into the freezing ocean, Sam’s life depends on the courage of one loyal dog – White Star. Register by phone or at the Help Desk starting Saturday, February 20 and pick up a copy of the book.

Thursday, March 18, 2010 @7:30PM (A) (T)
Robert Kurson in Person!
Author Robert Kurson visits Elmhurst to talk about his book Shadow Divers. There will be an opportunity to get your copy of Shadow Divers signed at the conclusion of Mr. Kurson’s presentation. Books will be available for purchase at the event. Questions regarding this event can be directed to the 2nd floor Information Desk. Held at the Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church.