

The Manresa Project is proud to announce that “Run” by Ann Patchett has been chosen as the text for the 2008 First Year Reading Program. From the author of the critically acclaimed “Bel Canto”, this novel tells the story of a former white mayor of Boston and his two African-American sons and, in the process, explores a number of issues: the tension between family expectations and personal vocation, the intersections of class and race, the power of politics and of faith, and the many meanings of family. For more about this slyly humorous, poignant, and human novel, please see the author’s website: <http://www.annpatchett.com/run.html>
The First Year Reading program encourages all incoming first-year students to read a common text and to discuss it with a small group of fellow students led by a faculty member and a student leader during New Student Orientation in August. Previous First-Year Reading texts include: “A Hope in the Unseen” by Ron Suskind, “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott, “A Lesson Before Dying” by Ernest J. Gaines, “Hunger” by Lan Samantha Chang, and “Bombingham” by Anthony Grooms. James Marten, chair of the implementation committee, will be soliciting discussion leaders from the Marquette community later in the spring.
The Manresa Project would like to thank the 2008 selection committee on their hard work and discussion in making this choice: Duane Bruce, Office of Student Development; Rosemary del Toro, Library; C.J Hribal, English; Dorothy Jenke, Junior; Dr. Christine Krueger, Core of Common Studies; Dr. James Marten, History; Ashley N. Miller, Freshman; Dr. Stephanie Quade, Office of Student Development; Dr. Krista Ratcliffe, English; Matt Robinson, Senior.
For more information about 2008 First Year Reading Program, see
http://www.marquette.edu/osd/reading/index.shtml
and for a collection of resources on Run, see
http://www.marquette.edu/library/information/news/exlibris0608/index.html