Novakovich, a native of Croatia now residing in Ohio, has written two other books, Yolk and Apricots from Chernobyl . Novakovich, an English professor at the University of Cincinnati, is one of eight authors who have been invited to Penn State to read their work. The creative writing faculty, along with the input of graduate students, was responsible for Novakovich's selection. Penn State has been supporting prose and poetry readings for years, said Cecil Giscombe, this year's director of the Allegheny Reading Series. So often literature is viewed as a work to be discussed and questioned, but it is actually a performance and an experience, Giscombe said.
Writing has an aural edge as well as being a cold fact on the page.
This program offers students the opportunity to experience that performance of a written work by the author, offering them new perspectives. Although graduate students select the authors, all students with an interest in literature may attend. There are usually about 100 people in attendance, and the range is broad. Anyone from grade three past graduate school may like to attend, Giscombe said. By inviting Novakovich to the campus to read his work, students will get to experience the literature and see Novakovich's interpretation of his own work.