Category Archives: Issue #3

September 2013

Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford Released to Advance Praise

By bicadmin | Published: September 19, 2013

Jamie Ford’s much-anticipated second novel, Songs of Willow Frost, was released this month to advance praise. Set against the backdrop of Depression-era Seattle, this historical novel is a powerful tale of a Chinese-American boy with dreams for his future, and a young woman trying to escape her haunted past and the cultural confines of her race. With many “teachable moments” embedded throughout this story of hope, forgiveness, and reaching for your dreams, Songs of Willow Frost is a wonderful book for students, and will appeal to a wide community audience.

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Biographies vs. Beach Books: Trends in All Campus Reads Selections

By bicadmin | Published: September 19, 2013

In the last decade, common reading programs have become a mainstay for library programming, literary organizations, and college campuses. The rise in First Year Experience, Freshman Reads, and All Campus Reads programs seems to correspond to the decline of core curricula in higher education — as colleges distance themselves from core curricula they find that students still need to have something in common academically. Books in common type programs on campuses have been a convenient answer to that need.

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We’ve Got Something in Common – Greetings From Christie Hinrichs

By bicadmin | Published: September 19, 2013

Before joining Books in Common as an Account Manager a few months ago, I had spent almost ten years as an event planner for a University Lecture series, a visiting writer’s program, and an annual writing conference that drew dozens of world class authors every year. I know what you’re going through!!

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Featured Venue: A Conversation with West Kentucky Reads!

By bicadmin | Published: September 19, 2013

Gail Robinson Butler, the coordinator for the One Book, One Campus, One Community program at West Kentucky Community and Technical College was gracious enough to offer these thoughts on her experience as an All Campus Reads organizer. Thanks Gail!

BIC: Any idea about how many campus literary events you’ve done over the years?

GRB: Over the years, WKCTC has conducted many campus literary events spanning various departments and divisions, including the library and the English Department. Those events are numerous and exciting. Many Kentucky and regional authors, such as Silas House and Bobbie Ann Mason, were brought to campus. Seven years ago, we decided to add to our literary offerings and produce a One Book, One Campus, One Community Read every other year. WKCTC has involved numerous community partners in both the planning and production of the event, including the Paducah-McCracken County Library, Paducah Public Schools, McCracken County Public Schools, McNet Library Network and more. On alternate years we produce a Campus Read, targeting English 101 students. New York Times best-selling authors David Baldacci, Jeannette Walls, Homer Hickam and Garth Stein have visited Paducah as a result of the reads.

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Feathers Author Thor Hanson Tickled By Audience

By bicadmin | Published: September 19, 2013

We recently sat down with Thor Hanson, author of Feathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle, and asked him about his experience at literary events.

BIC: What are some of the “teachable” moments in your latest book, Feathers, that make it work well for a literary events program, especially those for college students?

TH: Feathers works well for literary events because it draws on so many different interests. A discussion of feather colors can start with Aztec tapestries, move on to the fashion industry, touch on the physics of pigments and iridescence, and end up at a Las Vegas show, where the dancers’ costumes attract the eye in the same way as a bird’s plumage. Similarly, the aerodynamics of feathers take you from the evolution of flying dinosaurs straight through the Wright Brothers and on to bio-mimicry, the hottest new trend in engineering. One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching about feathers is seeing people’s surprise at the many ways they touch our lives.

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Postcards to Monroe and Reyna Grande

By bicadmin | Published: July 26, 2013
Postcard_Reyna Grande

One Book, One Community of Monroe will take a trip south next year, when the community of Monroe, MI will read The Distance Between Us together. Read More »

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  • Garth Stein: A SUDDEN LIGHT