Common Read 2011

The Common Read is a great way to meet  and share ideas and experiences with a diverse spectrum of people. The project is based on a series of events ranging from lectures and open forum discussion to films and other engaging materials. 2011 marks the kick-off for the Common Read and this year’s selected reading is Brother I’m Dying, by Edwidge Danticat, a compelling novel about her experiences in Haiti and America, the story of her dying father in New York and the life of her uncle who remained in Haiti during the revolutions. The book can be purchased at a discount from the UM-Flint bookstore and is definitely worth read.

The next event is a presentation of the film: “Aristotle and Endless Revolution”, and is scheduled for Tuesday, October 25, 2011; 5:30-8:00 pm, Michigan Room B, UCEN.

Excerpt from Brother I’m Dying, by Edwidge Danticat : “What I learned from my father and uncle, I learned out of sequence and in fragments. This [book] is an attempt at cohesiveness, and at re-creating a few wondrous and terrible months when their lives and mine intersected in startling ways, forcing me to look forward and back at the same time. I am writing this. . .because they can’t.”                                                                                    

Common Read Events:

Tuesday, October 25 | 5:30 – 8 p.m. | Michigan Room B, University Center
Film: “Aristide and Endless Revolution”

Thursday, October 27 | 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. | 523 French Hall                          
Faculty-Led:
Aimi Moss, Academic Advising Center
Suzanne Selig, Public Health and Health Sciences
Jan Worth, English Department and Thompson Center for Learning and Teaching

Tuesday, November 1 | 2:30 – 3:45 p.m. | 241 French Hall
Faculty-Led:
Dauda Abubakar, Political Science Department and Africana Studies Department
Alicia Kent, English Department

Wednesday, November 2 | 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | 523 French Hall
Faculty & Student-Led:
Tamera Dandachi
Peggy Kahn, Political Science Department
Suzanne Knight, English Department

Monday, November 7 | 2:30  -3:45 p.m. | 523 French Hall
Faculty-Led:
Amelia Biehl, Economics Department
Denise Dedman, Social Work Department

Tuesday, November 8 | 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | 523 French Hall
Student-Led:
Robert Burack
Tamera Dandachi
Mary Robinson

Thursday, November 10 | 4 – 5:30 p.m. | Ontario Room, University Center
Film: “Poto Mitan”

Thursday, November 17 | 1 – 2:15 p.m. | Happenings Room, University Center
Professor Nancy Cirillo, University of Illinois-Chicago:
“Growing up Caribbean and Learning out of Sequence”