Freshmen expand horizons with common reader
Contact: Kate Maine, University Relations
706-864-1950, kmaine@ngcsu.edu
Dahlonega, Ga. (Sept. 9, 2009) - North Georgia's efforts to provide students with a global learning perspective have extended this year to the use of a common reader that introduces students to a part of the world that is likely unfamiliar to most of them, yet has a significant impact.
Laila Lalami's Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits, published in 2005, is a collection of short vignettes about several Moroccan characters, some who struggle to survive in contemporary Morocco and some who are emigrating from Morocco to Spain to find a better life.
Her book was inspired by an incident in which 15 Moroccan immigrants drowned while crossing the Straits of Gibraltar on a fishing boat.
"As I started to research this subject, I learned about illegal immigration - what it represents, how it works, who benefits from it," Lalami said in describing the book. "The research, however, amounted to a lot of facts and figures; it didn't tell me what I wanted to know. I had been writing fiction for many years, and I thought that the answers to my questions might lie in creating a story about a group of harragas [migrants]. I set the action on a lifeboat, at sea, in the middle of the night."
All new freshmen will be required to read Lalami's book, which provides insight into the immigration experience and what it is like to travel and integrate into a new country or culture.
"The idea of a common reader is to provide a context in which we can examine important subjects and build community around significant issues," Dr. Tanya Bennett, English department chair, said. "We chose this book because it provides an opportunity for students to read a very important contemporary author and because immigration issues impact us in our region, and this book gives us a chance to explore their effects."
Lalami said, "The characters grew over the course of several months. There was Murad, an unemployed young man who feels emasculated by his sister's ability to provide for the family; Faten, a fanatically religious girl on the run from the law; Halima, a mother who takes her children with her on the boat; and Aziz, a mechanic who leaves his wife behind to try and find a job."
Lalami was born in Rabat, Morocco, and she was educated in Morocco, Britain and the United States. In addition to her popular literary blog, Moorishgirl, her work has appeared in many national newspapers.
"Students will likely be discussing the book in one or more of their classes," Bennett said. "For example, I'll be using it in my Freshman Composition 1 class this fall."
Additionally, the university plans several discussion groups to give students, faculty and staff an opportunity to talk about the issues raised in the book. Discussion groups are currently planned for Sept. 2, at 2 p.m., and Oct. 8, at 12:45 p.m. Both sessions will be in the university's Library Technology Center.
Lalami, who currently lives in Los Angeles, will be visiting the campus March 1 and 2, 2010, as a visiting author and guest lecturer for the university's annual Hoag Lecture. In addition to the lecture, Lalami will conduct a reading of her work and a book signing in the Library Technology Center.
During Lalami's stay, she will also visit Lumpkin County High School to speak with students and instructors there.
The university is also sponsoring an essay contest focused on Lalami's book. Essays submissions should relate to and address issues raised by the character's experiences in Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits. Contest entries must be submitted by Nov. 18, and the winners of the essay contest will receive lunch with Lalami.
