Jun 27 2007
The National Endowment for the Arts has substantially increased its participation in its Big Read program. On Monday the organization awarded 117 new grants totaling over $1.5 million and more than doubling the number of communities participating in the program.
Launched in 2006, the Big Read encourages people in cities and towns to jointly read one of a selected number of books and, is, according to NEA chairman Dana Gioia, a way to use reading as a community building tool. "By joining the Big Read, these cities and towns are showing that reading is necessary to the
cultural, civic, even economic fabric of their communities", Gioia said. The organization's goal is to have 400 communities on board for 2008.
The Tea Planter's Wife
by Dinah Jefferies
An utterly engrossing, compulsive page-turner set in 1920s Ceylon.
Darling Days
by iO Tillett Wright
Raw, emotionally intelligent and unflinchingly honest--a triumph.
About the book
Blood at the Root
"A gripping, timely, and important examination of American racism."
- PW Starred Review
Visitors can view some of BookBrowse for free. Full access is for members only.
Your guide toexceptional books
BookBrowse seeks out and recommends books that we believe to be best in class. Books that will whisk you to faraway places and times, that will expand your mind and challenge you -- the kinds of books you just can't wait to tell your friends about.
Subscribe to receive some of our best reviews, "beyond the book" articles, book club info & giveaways by email.
