I’m a tad behind on this but the South Dakota Center for the Book has again received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts
for The Big Read. The program seeks to encourage communities to read and discuss one book. This year’s selected book for South Dakota is Willa Cather’s My Antonia.
Last year, the Center for the Book was one of only 10 pilot projects in the country for the program. This year, 72 organizations nationwide are receiving program grants. Last year’s pilot project encouraged residents of Brookings and Sioux Falls to read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. This year, the program will take place in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Rapid City and Mitchell in March and April.
I admit to not having read My Antonia. It was required reading for my middle daughter’s AP Literature class (and all three daughters read To Kill a Mockingbird for their sophomore English classes). Perhaps I’ll use The Big Read to see why the book highly respected.
Winter lies too long in country towns; hangs on until it is stale and shabby, old and sullen.
Willa Cather, My Antonia
