What if we all read just one book?
PCIN is excited to announce that we have selected the 2025 Perth County Reads title: Finding Larkspur: A Return to Village Life by Dan Needles. Copies of the book are available at all PCIN library locations, in digital format as well as in book club kits.
Reserve your copy today!
Finding Larkspur by Dan Needles
An insightful and laugh-out-loud tour through the quirks and customs of today's Canadian small town.
Modern literature has not been kind to village life. For almost two centuries, small towns have been portrayed as backward, insular places needing to be escaped. But anthropologists tell us that the human species has spent more than 100,00 years living in villages of 100 to 150 people. This is where the oldest part of our brain, the limbic system, grew and adapted to become a very sophisticated instrument for reading other people’s emotions and figuring out how we might cooperate to find food, shelter and protection. By comparison, the frontal cortex, which helps us do our taxes, drive a car and download cat videos, is a very recent aftermarket addition, like a sunroof. And it is the village where almost half the world’s population still chooses to live.
Finding Larkspur takes a walk through the Canadian village of the twenty-first century, observing customs and traditions that endure despite the best efforts of Twitter, Facebook and Amazon. The author looks at the buildings and organizations left over from the old rural community, why they were built in the first place and how they have adapted to the modern day. The post office, the general store, the church, the school and the service club all remain standing, but they operate quite differently than they did for our ancestors. Drawing from his experience working in rural communities across Canada and in other countries, Needles reveals how a national conversation may be driven by urban voices but the national character is often very much a product of its small towns and back roads.
Dan Needles is a Canadian author, playwright, and humorist best known for his "Wingfield Farm" series of plays. Born in Toronto, Needles later moved to rural Ontario where his experiences informed much of his writing. His work often focuses on rural life, the clash between urban and country sensibilities, and the humorous aspects of farm living.
Perth County Reads Events
There are a variety of events surrounding Perth County Reads across Perth County. All programs are open to all residents of Perth County. Be sure to check details for locations and any registration requirements.
PCIN Reads Launch with Dan Needles
Come learn more about Finding Larkspur, this year's PCIN Reads selection. Dan Needles will be providing a reading from his latest book followed by a discussion. Copies of Finding Larkspur will be available for purchase with thanks to Fanfare Books.
