Love Medicine Big Read Book Selection

The YMCA Writer's Voice and The Parmly Library are two of the sponsors for this year's Big Read. The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of the American culture.

I learned yesterday that the Big Read has materials available for classrooms that want to participate. I also learned that the Big Read will be part of the High Plains BookFest in Billings, MT on Friday October 2, 2009 at the Western Heritage Museum.

"The Native American theme of this year's High Plains BookFest is derived from Love Medicine. Concurrent with the Parmly Billings Library Book Awards is the 7th Annual BookFest sponsored by the YMCA Writer's Voice. For information on the BookFest contact Corby Skinner corby@skinnerbenoit.com The Bookfest and the Big Read are designed to engage new audiences, and foster conversations about how literature addresses the challenges, rewards and many unique aspects of Native American life."

Louise Erdrich book Love medicine is about two Chippewa families living in North Dakota struggling to balance Native American tradition with the modern world. This book is considered a modern classic. The National Endowment for the Arts developed the teacher's guide as part of the classroom materials.

"Love Medicine" is written for "YA (high school)/Adult audience. The Big Read is working to have community discussion about the book. The Big Read has teaching materials as well as copies of the book available for classrooms that want to participate. As an adult if you want to sign up for the book discussion call 657-8258.