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Dal Reads
Dal Reads 2018/19
2018/19 Program
Title selection for Dal Reads 2018/19
Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson
Free copies of this book are available at all the Dal Libraries. In mid-September, the books will be available at the front desks of the residences.
If you're interested in a class set, contact marlo.mackay@dal.ca
About the book:
Brown Girl in the Ring is set in the near future in a dystopic Toronto. The book explores themes of folklore, feminism, and magic realism steeped in Afro-Caribbean culture. The novel won multiple awards around the time of its release in 1998 and was a Canada Reads finalist in 2008.
Events
Most of our 2018/19 events took place in classrooms with Nalo Hopkinson calling in via video conferencing and Brightspace technology. The public event this year was a panel on Afrofuturism: Afrofuturism: a panel discussion Join us for this panel discussion on Afrofuturism with Dr. Asha Jeffers of King’s and Dr. Isaac Saney of Dalhousie. Kewoba Carter of Dal’s International Centre will moderate. Monday, March 18, 7 p.m. |
About
Dal Reads is designed to encourage people in the Dalhousie community to share their love of books. Launched in 2009, the program brings the Dalhousie community together through the shared experience of reading the same book and taking part in programming related to the book.
Programming may include author readings, book club-type discussions, film viewings, and other events and opportunities to celebrate a shared love of reading. In addition, Faculty members may choose to include the Dal Reads book in their course curriculum.
In 2015, the Dal Reads Steering Committee decided to focus on first-year undergraduate students. By selecting this group of students, Dal Reads aims to provide a common intellectual experience that will serve as both an introduction to Dalhousie University and to post-secondary academic life in general. We hope that this format will encourage lots of discussion and the development of exciting new and innovative programming.
Selection Criteria
A Dal Reads book:
- must be written by a living author
- must be able to generate discussion and exchange of ideas
- must be appealing to a broad range of readers of varying ages, literacy levels, and life experience
- must be in print and available for purchase in paperback
- must be strongly written with elements that will generate excitement among readers.
Goals
Dal Reads aims to:
- provide first-year students with a common intellectual experience that will serve as an introduction to both Dalhousie University and post-secondary academic life in general
- encourage reading for pleasure
- provide an opportunity for connection (students, faculty, staff, undergrads, grads, regardless of area of study)
- provide a unique social activity
- make reading a more social activity (as opposed to something one does alone)
- provide an opportunity for the Dalhousie Libraries to promote the collection in a new way
- connect with the curriculum and other university activities and interests
We look forward to seeing you around campus this fall with your copy of the Dal Reads selected book for 2018!
Dal Reads Titles 2009–2018
| 2009–2011 | The Book of Negroes, Lawrence Hill |
| 2012 | Twenty-Six, Leo McKay Jr. (partnership with One Book Nova Scotia) |
| 2013 | Fauna, Alissa York (partnership with One Book Nova Scotia) |
| 2014 | Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, Robin Sloan |
| 2015 | A Year of Living Generously, Lawrence Scanlan |
| 2016 | The Hermit of Africville, Jon Tattrie |
| 2017 | We Were Not the Savages, Daniel Paul |
| 2018 | Brown Girl in the Ring, Nalo Hopkinson |
Steering Committee
Donna Bourne-Tyson |
University Librarian |
Kewoba Carter |
Black Faculty & Staff Caucus Representative |
Sarah Davis |
Access Services/Digital Initiatives, Dalhousie Libraries |
Patti Doyle-Bedwell |
Faculty, College of Continuing Education |
| Margot Latimer | Faculty, School of Nursing, Senate representative |
Marlo MacKay (chair) |
Communications Coordinator, Dalhousie Libraries |
Shelley McKibbon |
Health Sciences Librarian, Dalhousie Libraries |
Lindsay McNiff |
Learning & Instruction Librarian, Dalhousie Libraries |
| Aaron Prosper | President of Dalhousie Student Union |
| Brandon Randall | International Centre |
| Jolene Reid | Document Delivery/Government Documents, Dalhousie Libraries |
| Isaac Saney | Director of the Transition Year Program (TYP) |
Karen Smith |
Special Collections Librarian, Dalhousie Libraries |
| Hannah Steeves | Law Librarian, Dalhousie Libraries |
| Art Stevens | Aboriginal Student Advisor |