Kalamazoo’s SUMMER COMMON READING joins new students, faculty, and staff in a conversation about a novel they have read during the summer. Summer Common Reading is an important first step in building a cohesive, dynamic, educational community. To share a book means we all begin "on the same page"--literally. By reading this book attentively, discussing it with peers and faculty, connecting it to other academic disciplines at the college, the Summer Common Reading experience is seen a microcosm of, and a model for, a liberal arts education.

The fall 2008 novel is Junot Diaz's novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.

Past SCR authors and novels include:
1999-Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
2000-Richard Ford, Independence Day
2001-Chang-rae Lee, A Gesture Life
2002-Ha Jin, Waiting
2003-Ann Patchett, Bel Canto
2004-Aleksandar Hemon, Nowhere Man
2005-Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Purple Hibiscus
2006-Jonathan Safran Foer, Everything Is Illuminated
2007-Edward P. Jones, The Known World

Since 2000, the author of the chosen novel has visited campus during orientation to augment discussion of the work.

The Summer Common Reading Committee:
Andy Mozina, English Department
Zaide Pixley, Dean of the First Year & Advising
Di Seuss, English Department
Jan Tobochnik, Acting Provost