One Book Read is Back in Person

One Book Read

WKCTC CELEBRATES THE JOY AND COMMUNION OF LITERATURE

H by Amy Sullivan

For nearly fifteen years, WKCTC has helped staff, students, and the greater community dive deep into some of literature’s most poignant topics. They celebrate the return of in-person author visits with Ross Gay’s Book of Delights.

W F OR NEARLY FIFTEEN years, Western Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) has come together to read one book, explore one message, and unite around one visit from an influential author. Thousands of students, faculty, staff, and community members have participated in what is now known as The One Book Read. Originally called One Book, One Campus, One Community Read, the program began in 2008 with the idea of bringing a bestselling author to WKCTC as a featured speaker. The inaugural session featured Homer Hickam, NASA engineer and author of Rocket Boys, the New York Times bestselling memoir that inspired the film “October Sky.” Hickam’s visit to Paducah opened to a full house at Maiden Alley Cinema for a screening of the movie “October Sky.” The author made presentations at a VIP reception, a town hall meeting for students, and a keynote presentation at the college. The One Book event was so successful in attendance and participation, the college decided to make it an annual event that brings a bestselling and/or awardwinning author to campus. The project is dedicated year-round to focusing on literacy and encouraging reading not only across campus, but also throughout the community. To generate excitement for the author’s arrival in the spring, events are planned throughout the academic year. These have included writing contests, art or photography contests and displays, and book discussions at WKCTC, McCracken County Public Library, and Graves County Public Library. Events that bring awareness to the issues discussed in the books play a part in generating excitement during both the fall and spring semesters. The culminating event of the One Book Read is the author’s visit to Paducah and the college campus each spring. The visit includes receptions, presentations, books signings, and sometimes, even writing workshops with the author. All events are free and open to the public. WKCTC aims for its authors to be thought-provoking, and for students— some of whom may have never read a book by choice—to be captivated by a memorable book with themes and topics that are relevant and timely. This academic year, the college is delighted to celebrate 15 years of the One Book Read in

2023 when Ross Gay, author of the Book of Delights, visits the campus on March 14 and 15.

The Book of Delights is a collection of brief essays by the National Book Award finalist and poet. In this collection, Gay spends a year documenting the small things which delight him, while never ignoring the presence of “undelightful” issues in our world. He touches on contemporary issues in disarming and thought-provoking ways, which WKCTC’s One Book Read selection committee felt students and community members would embrace. “The committee thought this book, and all its joy, would be a perfect selection and vehicle for everyone to reflect on the hardships of the past few years, while moving forward and recognizing the small, unique things which bring all of us delight,” shared Britton Shurley, chair of the One Book Read Committee, and WKCTC Dean of Humanities, Fine Arts, Business and Social Sciences. “We envision this book as a way for our campus to support mental and physical health, focusing our campus’s attention upon a ‘year of delights.’ We wondered what it would look like, if campus-wide, we each chose to focus on bringing more delight to students, faculty, staff and the community.”

ROSS GAY will give a reading and book signing on Tuesday evening, March 14, and a daytime reading on Wednesday, March 15. Visit onebookread.com for more information on WKCTC’s One Book Read events.

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