HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – The Big Read in Holland kicks off tonight at the Knickerbocker Theater in Holland.
The program is coordinated through Hope College and funded through a grant through the Big Read initiative of the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) in partnership with Arts Midwest. The book this year us “When the Emperor Was Divine” by Julie Otsuka. There will be public events throughout the month of November such as lectures, poetry-writing workshop and even a keynote address from the author of the book.
When the Emperor Was Divine transports readers to 1942, as it tells the story of Japanese-American internment from five points of view. The NEA’s website for the Big Read says that the book “not only invites readers to consider the troubling moral and civic questions that emerge from this period in American history but also offers a tale that is both incredibly poignant and fully human.” The book is available at no cost this evening at the kick-off event.
Deborah Van Duinen, PhD is Associate Professor of English Education at Hope College say The Big Read in Holland is in it’s 4th year and the program has grown over the years.
“I do have to say that seeing the growth of the program over these last four years has been fascinating just to see how much interest and participation has kept bubbling up The result in terms of name recognition has been huge and we feel like this year way more book clubs, teachers, students and parents are asking us about the book and are interested in participating I think it is changing our community.”
The Big Read Holland kicks off tonight with a TED-talk-styled celebration at 7:00 p.m. There are several events this month honoring the book including a keynote address by the author Julie Otsuka. on Thursday, November 9 at Hope College.
More information about Holland’s Big Read is online.
