Justice and injustice, courage, pride, prejudice, empathy, and responsibility — those are just a few things the 25 Wyoming County Reads book discussion participants identified as what the children learned in the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” during our first discussion. I had never really thought about it before, but somehow, Harper Lee was able to pack so many life lessons into her small and easily accessible coming of age story.

Facilitator Bill Chapla also asked us if we could identify other coming of age stories in literature and here are few from the list Bill and the group came up with: “Little Women,” “Catcher in the Rye,” “The Fault in our Stars,” all of the Harry Potter books, “A Separate Peace,” and “Anne of Green Gables.” There is so much to learn from these novels that focus on the growth of their characters.

During this week’s Wyoming County Reads discussion, we will focus on “Heroes and Humans: A Study of Atticus Finch,” and then at 7 p.m. Feb. 17, we will compare the classic “To Kill a Mockingbird” with newly released “Go Set a Watchman.” Join us at the Tunkhannock Public Library for Wyoming County Reads discussions. Admission is free and light refreshments will be provided.

In addition to Wyoming County Reads, you will be disappointed if you miss the National Theatre Live film of the play “The Audience,” showing at 2 p.m. Feb. 21. Those of us who have seen it were mesmerized by Helen Mirren’s dazzling performance as Queen Elizabeth in her weekly meetings with her prime ministers — all 12 of them. You will be surprised to find out which one for whom she had the most affection. It is fascinating to watch her grow as a monarch and age right before our eyes.

We are also so proud to be introducing our first ever Winter Fest, a feast of the best recent foreign and independent films in the middle of the winter. Opening Night on Feb. 12 will be such a festive evening with two movies, wine and beer, cheese, crackers, popcorn, and a luscious brownie a la mode dessert with toppings of your choice. The first movie, “Grandma,” with Lily Tomlin is the poignant but comic story of a grandma helping a granddaughter in crisis. The second, “Meet the Patels,” takes you on a journey of a young man trying to find his marriage partner. Both movies are just plain fun! It is not too late to call the Dietrich at 570-996-1500 for your tickets to Opening Night. We hope to see you.

Opening night features two of the 14 movies in Winter Fest. You have probably heard of “Suffragette” with Carey Mulligan about the fight to obtain the right to vote in Britain. The movie “Room” won acclaim for the outstanding acting in the film based on the book about the devastating captivity of a mother and her son who were confined to one room. You may not have heard of “Learning to Drive,” about an unlikely friendship, or “The Wonders,” which takes place in the Tuscan countryside, or “99 Homes,” about a single father and his family who are evicted, or a documentary of “Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words.” And there are seven more films to take you on journeys into new places and ideas.

We would like to thank the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau and PS Bank for making Winter Fest possible.

As you can see, the Dietrich is so much more than the movies!

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More Than Movies

Erica Rogler

Reach the Abington Journal newsroom at 570-587-1148 or news@s24528.p831.sites.pressdns.com.