|
WELCOME TO UNIVERSITY 110:
The Big Read
THE BIG READ: COASTAL
CAROLINA UNIVERSITY'S SUMMER READING PROGRAM
The Brief History of the Dead is a fantasy novel based on an African division of society into the
alive on earth, those recently departed but still “alive” in the memories of the living, and the
ancestors who are wholly dead because they are no longer known by anyone still living. “The
City” is the home of all the dead who are still remembered by someone living. Here the reader
meets the residents for whom “the after-life” has taken on a whole new meaning and where
people disappear without warning. A second thread in the novel tells the story of Laura Byrd, a
lone researcher stuck in Antarctica, who is running out of supplies and time. Will Laura end up
in The City? What happens when all the people of The City are “wrenched out of their
histories”? In this meditation on the future of mankind, Kevin Brockmeier focuses on the
importance of human connections across boundaries of all kinds.
Awarding-winning author Kevin Brockmeier’s stories have appeared in The New Yorker and
The Best American Short Stories. The Brief History of the Dead is his third novel. He has also
written two books for children.
Check out the website for The Brief History of the Dead at
http://www.randomhouse.com/kvpa/brockmeier.
Mission:
The mission of the BIG READ program is to unite incoming CCU freshmen in an enjoyable shared learning experience prior to beginning their academic course work.
Purpose:
The program’s purpose is to create a singular introductory learning forum among our students, across various disciplines, and to facilitate creative and critical thinking from the moment they step foot on campus.
Goals:
The goals of this program are to engage students in a singular academic task, encourage the critical thought process, explore themes and ideas relevant to student life, and challenge students to develop and explore multiple perspectives.
BIG READ Committee’s Charge
The charge of the BIG READ committee is to evaluate and select materials each academic year that fulfill the goals of the summer reading program. Members of the committee participate on a volunteer basis and include faculty, staff and students. The committee reviews all materials solicited across campus and makes it’s selections based on a set list of criteria.
| 
