Buncombe County Names 'Happy Land' Its 2026 Countywide Read, Author Event Set for May 16

Buncombe County Public Libraries have selected "Happy Land" by acclaimed writer and historian Dolen Perkins-Valdez as the 2026 One Book, One Buncombe countywide read, with a free author event scheduled for May 16 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.

The novel, set in Western North Carolina, emerged from a survey of library staff, county employees, and community members. Fairview Library Branch Manager Jen Waite described the selection as decisive. "Happy Land was a resounding selection, chosen through a survey of library staff, County employees, and community members," Waite said. "The story centers on land, memory, resilience, and local history. It reflects on our region's layered past through its agricultural roots, oral traditions, and our stories."

The May 16 author event at AB Tech is free and open to the public. Specific start time and event format have not been announced; full details are available at buncombenc.gov/library and through the One Book, One Buncombe webpage. Library branches across the county will help residents obtain copies, and a free discussion guide is available through the program.

Waite framed the initiative as a direct response to fragmentation in civic life. "One Book, One Buncombe is about creating a shared experience across our community. In a time when people often feel divided or disconnected, reading the same book gives us common ground, something thoughtful and meaningful to talk about with neighbors, coworkers, and friends," she said.

The countywide read coincides with a related county library effort. Buncombe County Special Collections at Pack Memorial Library, located at 67 Haywood Street in Asheville, has been hosting "Black Stories and Census Tract 2," an exhibition centering the experiences of elders and descendants of Asheville's historic Black neighborhoods, including Stumptown. That exhibit runs through April 21, closing with a documentary screening and community gathering that evening at 5 p.m.

Community book discussions are planned at multiple branches, including the North Asheville Library at 1030 Merrimon Avenue. Other branches participating in the program span the county, from the Leicester Library at 1561 Alexander Road to the Enka-Candler Library at 1404 Sand Hill Road in Candler. Residents can check branch listings and program schedules at buncombenc.gov/library.