Common Read Experience

This year’s Common Read Program promises to be exciting, intriguing and thought provoking. The Common Read committee selected four great books, all centered on the major theme of purpose with a number of related sub-themes such as relationships and diversity, as well as other themes.

About the common read books

Each of the books were selected with students in mind and, therefore, we believe all students will be able to make connections between the topics covered in the books and the transition and adjustment issues that take place during the first semester or year of college. Seminar students will be challenged and engaged by the readings; have opportunities to share and learn diverse perspectives from other first-year students; and seminar students will also be able to utilize what is learned to impact both their academic and social adjustment and experiences here at the University.

Rest assured that no matter what your appetite for reading, you will enjoy your common read experience this fall.

Note: Students (in most cases) will not be required to read all four of the books. Faculty facilitators will inform students of which book(s) will be required during the first week of classes.

First-Year Seminar Fall 2009 Common Read Selections

Does My Head Look Big in This?
Set in a large city in Australia; Does My Head Look Big in This? describes the struggle of Amal as she makes a life-changing decision to become a “full-timer,” a young Muslim woman who wears the hijab, or the head scarf, whenever she is outside her home. Amal faces down the principal of her high school, the stares of strangers, and cruel comments as she comes to terms with this decision. Abdel-Fattah’s book is funny and a great read as she gives readers a glimpse into the everyday life of Muslim women.

The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao
Oscar Wao is a conundrum. Men from the Dominican Republic are supposed to be dashing, dark, and dangerous which described Oscar as a five-year-old. As a teenager, Oscar was a Star Trek loving, overweight geek. Convinced that he will never have a woman in his life, Oscar gets depressed even when his best friends and sister try to hook him up. Dìaz’ first book won the Pulitzer Prize as it is both a funny and realistic look at a brief, wondrous life.

Right Behind You
Kip lives a life of secrets. He cannot tell anyone his real name, anything about his past, nor where he is from because if they knew, his life and those of his family would be in danger. No one wants to befriend a murderer – especially not one who killed a seven-year-old when he was nine. Now a teenager, Kip struggles with guilt and living a life that is fraught with secrets. Gail Giles paints a picture of a young life forever altered by one bad decision.

Catalyst
Sometimes the pressure of getting into a good college can be overwhelming. Especially when everyone knows the goal is MIT and no one knows you’ve not applied at any back-up colleges. Add Terri, a loud, overpowering bully and an overly soft-hearted father to the mix and you’ve got Kate’s life. To make matters worse, when Terri’s house catches fire, Kate’s father takes Terri and her younger brother into their home. Sharing a school with Terri was bad enough but sharing a bedroom? Laurie Halse Anderson’s story is similar to her previous book Speak (1998) in that it is an excellent read.