Reading has a long tradition of bringing people together through book clubs, but every year the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) aims to bring entire communities together over one book. It’s a little bit of a push to make sure that people are still reading the classics and that reading remains a part of American culture- a great mission, I think.
NEA Big Read communities are usually centered around a local library or arts group/organization with a connection to the NEA. Currently, there are 208 communities participating and by the looks of the community map, the pushpins are scattered well enough that most Scholar Scoop readers should have one nearby.
Here in Washington, DC, we are reading The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers. I just finished it, and I can’t wait to attend all my local events. There’s a book discussion led by a local writer and professor at my local branch library, a concert of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 (Carson McCuller’s favorite), walking tours of Depression-Era Washington, DC, and a number of lectures on deaf characters in popular film and literature- just to name a few of the events.
Check out the Big Read website and see if there’s a way for you to participate in your area. I know you will definitely learn something, and you might also make some new friends in your community too!
Filed under: misc. Tagged: | books, community, Heart is a Lonely Hunter, NEA, reading
