The Big Read application available, announcing new titles

The Big Read is accepting applications from non-profit organizations to develop community-wide reading programs between September 2014 and June 2015. The Big Read is a national program designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment.  Organizations selected to participate in The Big Read receive a grant, educational and promotional materials, and access to online training resources and opportunities. Approximately 75 organizations from across the country will be selected. To review the Guidelines and Application Instructions, visit The Big Read website.  Application deadline: January 28, 2014 by 4:00pm CST We are proud to announce the addition of two new titles to The Big Read catalog this year: The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengestu Dinaw Mengestu tells the story of Sepha Stephanos, who fled the Ethiopian Revolution for a better life in America, and examines how an immigrant’s expectations match up to the reality of American life. When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka In this powerful and concise novel, Julie Otsuka describes the grim experiences of a Japanese-American family forced to live in an internment camp during World War II.