The Big Read | College of Language & Letters | BYU-Idaho

# The Big Read

## Join the Big Read

The College of Language and Letters invites all students, faculty, and staff of BYU-Idaho to participate in this semester's Big Read. The Big Read is a program in which members of our university community are encouraged to read a significant piece of literature. As a companion to this reading, the College also sponsors several "chats" throughout the semester, where participants gather and share insights, thoughts, or questions about the book we are all reading. Think of the Big Read as a big, friendly book club where we occasionally meet to learn and express ideas (and partake of refreshments) together.

## Join the Big Read

The College of Language and Letters invites all students, faculty, and staff of BYU-Idaho to participate in this semester's Big Read. The Big Read is a program in which members of our university community are encouraged to read a significant piece of literature. As a companion to this reading, the College also sponsors several "chats" throughout the semester, where participants gather and share insights, thoughts, or questions about the book we are all reading. Think of the Big Read as a big, friendly book club where we occasionally meet to learn and express ideas (and partake of refreshments) together.

## Previous Reads

Fall 2024: The Fellowship of the Ring

Tom Ballard from the English Department led the discussion. The title of his presentation was "Foundations of the Fellowship: (Re)Discovering Modern Fantasy with J.R.R. Tolkien." 
Watch the Fall 2024 discussion recording

Spring 2024: Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglas

Andrea Radke-Moss from the History, Geography, and Political Science department led the discussion. 
Watch the Spring 2024 discussion recording

Winter 2024: Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Joelle Moen from the English department led the discussion. The title of her presentation was "101 Reasons to Love Hurston's **Their Eyes Were Watching God**." 
Watch the winter 2024 discussion recording

Winter 2023: Frankenstein

For the Winter 2023 semester, we invite students, faculty, and staff to participate in reading Mary Shelley's **Frankenstein**. This 1818 novel is widely considered to be the first major work of science fiction, and we encourage everyone to join in reading this remarkable novel. We'll be using the Oxford World Classics edition as our preferred text, but you can read whichever edition you would like. 
 
Watch the Winter 2023 discussion recording

Fall 2022: Much Ado About Nothing

This semester, we will be reading William Shakespeare's **Much Ado About Nothing**. Believed to have been written around 1598, this classic tale of romance, wit, and comedy has been adapted to both film and stage several times throughout its publication. As one of Shakespeare's more popular works, **Much Ado About Nothing** is still very much applicable to modern audiences, and boasts a wide variety of themes from honor and deceit to marriage and friendship. It also explores the concepts of love and nothingness, while calling into question the importance of each. We hope you enjoy this comedic, yet compelling, play. We also hope you will support the Theatre Department's production of the play in late October. 
 
****Big Read Chat**** 
 
November 10th in the Hinckley Chapel, Sarah d'Evegnee and Diantha Hopkins presented a pair of presentations on "Sinning and Mistaking: Lessons on Deception from the Men and Women of **Much Ado About Nothing**."