2014 is the 10th year of the IWU Summer Reading Program for incoming students. This is also the 10th year I’ll be participating as a reading group facilitator. The idea of this program is to gently introduce our freshmen to some intellectual activity during the orientation week that is usually filled with move-in activities.

The book selection for this summer is The Madonnas of Echo Park by Brando Skyhorse. You can read this old NPR feature if you’d like to know more about the book.

Students are broken up into discussion groups that are facilitated by one or more faculty, staff, or alumni “grown-ups”. I’ve been asked to invite any alumni reading this blog to take part:

If you would like to participate in an alumni-only book discussion group in Bloomington, Chicago or Washington DC, please click here to register or contact your area Alumni Regional President directly.

· RSVP for the on-campus book discussion group on Friday, August 20, 6-8pm.

· Wednesday, September 3rd the author will be discussing his book at the President’s Convocation at 11 am at Westbrook Auditorium in Presser Hall, IWU.