Spring Break
Gish Jen slated for community reading, signing
By: Christina Ashie
Issue date: 4/9/07 Section: News
Author Gish Jen will entertain audiences with a reading from her novel "Typical American" on Tuesday in the Bryan Civic Auditorium as a part of the Brazos Valley Reads program (BVR).
Jen, a Chinese American, has also written "Mona in the Promised Land" and "The Love Wife."
Jen's appearance marks the third anniversary for the program, which was initiated in 2005 through the English Department at Texas A&M as a way to interact with the Bryan-College Station community. Through BVR, reading groups are created throughout the Bryan-College Station area that read the book of choice - this year "Typical American" - and discuss it together. In the spring, the author of the novel makes a public appearance.
Jen's books will be available for purchase and signing starting at 6 p.m. She will begin her reading at 7:30 p.m., and will take questions from the audience at the reading's conclusion. Previous authors who have made appearances include Ernest Gaines, author of "A Lesson Before Dying" and Sandra Cisneros, author of "The House on Mango Street."
Paul Parrish, head of the English Department, said he expects a good turnout for the event.
"Our goal has been to make this an annual event that is viewed as important to the community," Parrish said.
This year begins a tradition that further connects the A&M campus with the Bryan-College Station community. In fall 2006, the College of Liberal Arts began its Common Grounds program. Through the program, a single book is selected by the liberal arts dean's office, and then a complimentary copy is given to every freshman liberal arts student.
This year's book selection was also Jen's "Typical American."
"For the selection of Gish Jen, we were interested in choosing a significant literary text that also touches on issues of current, pressing interest," said Marian Eide, an English professor and English associate department head. "In the case of 'Typical American,' the novel allows us to think about the immigrant experience and also about the relationship between China and the U.S. which is so much in the news these days."
As this book has been promoted on the A&M campus for liberal arts freshman and other English students - in addition to its typical promotion through reading groups in the Brazos Valley and College Station and Bryan high schools - organizers expect attendance to be high and encourage interested attendees to be early for seating and parking.
Jen, a Chinese American, has also written "Mona in the Promised Land" and "The Love Wife."
Jen's appearance marks the third anniversary for the program, which was initiated in 2005 through the English Department at Texas A&M as a way to interact with the Bryan-College Station community. Through BVR, reading groups are created throughout the Bryan-College Station area that read the book of choice - this year "Typical American" - and discuss it together. In the spring, the author of the novel makes a public appearance.
Jen's books will be available for purchase and signing starting at 6 p.m. She will begin her reading at 7:30 p.m., and will take questions from the audience at the reading's conclusion. Previous authors who have made appearances include Ernest Gaines, author of "A Lesson Before Dying" and Sandra Cisneros, author of "The House on Mango Street."
Paul Parrish, head of the English Department, said he expects a good turnout for the event.
"Our goal has been to make this an annual event that is viewed as important to the community," Parrish said.
This year begins a tradition that further connects the A&M campus with the Bryan-College Station community. In fall 2006, the College of Liberal Arts began its Common Grounds program. Through the program, a single book is selected by the liberal arts dean's office, and then a complimentary copy is given to every freshman liberal arts student.
This year's book selection was also Jen's "Typical American."
"For the selection of Gish Jen, we were interested in choosing a significant literary text that also touches on issues of current, pressing interest," said Marian Eide, an English professor and English associate department head. "In the case of 'Typical American,' the novel allows us to think about the immigrant experience and also about the relationship between China and the U.S. which is so much in the news these days."
As this book has been promoted on the A&M campus for liberal arts freshman and other English students - in addition to its typical promotion through reading groups in the Brazos Valley and College Station and Bryan high schools - organizers expect attendance to be high and encourage interested attendees to be early for seating and parking.
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