Pittsburg group encourages literacy through bookstore

By Roni Gehlke

For the Contra Costa Times

Posted: 03/01/2016 11:42:34 AM PST

PITTSBURG -- Even with many of the small brick-and-mortar bookstores closing, not long ago the Pittsburg Arts and Community Foundation Inc. took a chance and opened Railroad Book Depot as a way to help fund and encourage literacy throughout East County. The idea seems to be panning out as the organization not only runs a successful business, but also hosts book clubs and events that seem to be attracting people from far and wide.

"Our Movie Lovers Book Club is one of our most successful and longest running," said Janis Glover one of the organizers for the bookstore.

For several years the Movie Lovers Book Club has been offering a local residents the chance to come in pick out a book among their group and the watch the movie.

"There have been a wide assortment of books and movies read and watched over the years," Glover said. "Everything from historical, classics to political."

The next book and movie for the group will meet the first and second Tuesdays in March. The book of choice is "The Thirty-Nine Steps."

The book was written a century ago, in 1915, by Scottish author John Buchan for a British magazine and later turned his series of stories into a novel. It was 20 years later that Alfred Hitchcock, as a young movie director, produced the first of four film adaptations of the novel. The 1935 Hitchcock classic, starring Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll, ranks fourth on British Film Institute's list of greatest British films of the 20th century and is the chosen version of the club to watch on March 8 at 7 p.m.

"If you love to read and love a movie then perfect place for you," Glover said. "The group meets on first and second Tuesdays of the month to engage in entertaining discussions over their chosen book and how it is portrayed in the movie."

There is an annual fee for the movies to be shown at the bookstore, which is picked up by the Pittsburg Arts and Community Foundation Inc. Other than purchasing the book, there is no cost to be a member of the club and Glover said that everyone is welcome to join no matter if they are from Pittsburg.

Filled with comfortable chairs and sofas, the lounge area at the bookstore was designed specifically in mind for groups like the Movie Lovers Book Club to come in and enjoy the use of the bookstore.

While there are other book and writing clubs that meet at the bookstore, Glover said the Railroad Book Depot is hoping to encourage more groups to come in and use the facility for their book club. All book clubs that use the facility receive a 20 percent discount on books purchased at the Railroad Book Depot.

"We're looking for clubs that cater to young and old," Glover said. "We have a lot of successful events that feature children's activities and we'd like to encourage more."

The bookstore hosts a Princess Story Time reading event on the third Saturday of each month a "princess" reads stories to the children. The next event will be March 19 from 10 a.m. to noon. In additional, a Dr. Seuss Birthday Party is set at the store from noon to 2 p.m. March 12, and this Saturday, author Le Pham Le will sign copies of her children's book, "Guava Hill," from 10 a.m. to noon.

Visit the Railroad Book Club at 650 Railroad Ave. in Pittsburg. The bookstore is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. call the bookstore at 925-427-2334.