By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Get ready, set, read. The Just Buffalo Literary Center Tuesday kicked off its annual community-wide reading event, "The Big Read."
"The Big Read" is a big hit in Buffalo every year. So much so that this year, Buffalo is one of 72 cities that were asked to help launch the program nationally.
So, the whole country will be watching as Buffalo readers dig into Zora Neale Hurston's novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God.
Events centered around the book are planned throughout May. Laurie Dean Torrell is Executive Director for Just Buffalo. She said participation is central to the program's success.
Torrell said "The Big Read" is already a success in area high schools. A combination of local and national grants for the program allowed Just Buffalo to purchase 3,000 copies of the book. 2,000 of those went to Buffalo high school students. Torrell said teachers have embraced the reading program, working it into their curriculums.
Torrell said there are several community events intended to include readers of all ages, and to spark discussion on the many socially relevant themes presented in the book.
The program concludes on May 25 with a panel discussion led by the author's niece, Lucy Anne Hurston. More information on events scheduled throughout the month is available at the Just Buffalo Literary Center web site.
Click the "listen" icon above to hear Joyce Kryszak's story now or use your podcasting software to download it to your computer or iPod.