A fantastic, futuristic and legalistic Big Read!

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Long before Harry went to Hogwarts, Ged went to the wizard School on Roke. Ursula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea paved the way for today’s popular young adult fantasy. But A Wizard of Earthsea and Le Guin’s other work are of interest not only to readers of fantasy and science fiction but also to feminist, classics and legal scholars at the University of Florida.

The lasting cultural and political impact of Ursula K. Le Guin will be explored at:

•  an interview with documentary filmmaker Arwen Curry about Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin on Conner Calling on Florida’s 89.1 WUFT FM (April 13),
•  a legal discussion about Google Books and author rights at the Levin College of Law (April 16),
•  book talks at Headquarters Library (April 22) and the Civic Media Center (April 26),
•  and an exploration of how Le Guin’s Lavinia was inspired by Vergil's Aeneid at Headquarters Library (April 23).

Alachua County Library District is pleased to partner with the University of Florida’s Center for Women’s Studies and Gender Research, Department of English and Levin College of Law to bring a series of Big Read events to the UF community.

The Alachua County Library District, Cade Museum for Creativity + Invention, the School Board of Alachua County, the University of Florida’s Center for Women Studies and Gender Research, the University of Florida Department of English, the University of Florida Levin College of Law, Wild Iris Books, and the Civic Media Center are hosting more than 25 free Big Read events in April. This national endeavor will bring 76 communities across the country together to read, discuss, and celebrate books and writers from American and world literature.

The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. It is designed to restore reading to the center of American culture.

For more information, please contact Travis Fristoe, tfristoe@aclib.us, Sheila Bishop, sbishop@aclib.us or Nickie Kortus at (352) 334-3909, nkortus@aclib.us. For more about the Big Read visit neabigread.org or aclib.us/bigread.

Events of Interest

Dive into Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin with filmmaker Arwen Curry: Find out more about Curry’s work on her documentary Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin. Join us for a talk with Curry, including clips from the film.

Thurs., April 12, 6:00pm. Headquarters Library, 401 E. University Avenue, Gainesville

Fri., April 13.  4:00pm. Tower Branch Library, 3020 S.W. 75th Street, Gainesville

Arwen Curry on Conner Calling, WUFT Classic 89 FM: Hank Conner interviews Arwen Curry about her documentary Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin. Call or email your questions in: 352-392-8989, fmcallin@wuft.org

Friday, April 13. 1:00-2:00pm. on Classic 89.1 FM

Google Books: Why Ursula LeGuin and Other Authors are Concerned: Google’s wholesale digitization of books for its Google Books has created a great deal of controversy. Authors who feel that their copyright interests are being violated have struck back with a major lawsuit.  The discussion, lead by law librarian and copyright specialist Jennifer Wondracek, will look at both sides of the issue and the progress of the court case.

Mon., April 16, 6:00pm. UF Law School: Chesterfield Smith, Classroom, Holland Hall room 180

Booktalk with Stephanie Smith: Dr. Smith will discuss both Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea Trilogy and LeGuin's legacy in terms of how her work influenced other well-loved and well-written adult and young adult fantasy and science fiction.

Sun., April 22, 2:00pm. Headquarters Library, 401 E. University Avenue, Gainesville

Le Guin & Rome: Classics professor Jennifer Rea will be discussing Le Guin’s novel Lavinia which was inspired by Vergil's Aeneid and tells the story of Rome’s foundation.

Mon., April 23, 6:00pm.  Headquarters Library, 401 E. University Avenue, Gainesville

Civic Media Center Booktalk: Join a group discussion about Le Guin books and her politics.

Thurs., April 26, 7:00pm. Civic Media Center, 433 S. Main Street, Gainesville

Entering and Leaving Fantasy’s Wild Lands at Wild Iris Books: Chat with fellow readers who love traveling into the fantastical worlds created by Le Guin. Refreshments can be purchased at Café Collette and local musicians Dirty Fist will help us celebrate a month’s worth of the Big Read in our community.

Fri., April 27, 5:30 to 7:00pm, Wild Iris Books, 802 W. University Avenue, Gainesville