NEA Big Read begins April 1
- NEA Big Read: Saturday, April 1-Wednesday, May 17
The Athens-Clarke County Library is pleased to be participating in the 2022-23 NEA Big Read with professor Melisa Cahnmann-Taylor from UGA’s Mary Frances Early College of Education. The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read is designed to broaden our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book.
Our book is “Deaf Republic” by Ilya Kaminsky. During April, which is both National Poetry Month and Deaf History Month, and concluding in May, we will explore many aspects of this award-winning work in a series of community-wide events. “Deaf Republic” propels the reader forward through a harrowing story in two acts that opens with the shooting of a deaf boy in a public square by occupying soldiers. In protest, the townspeople go deaf, organizing their dissent through puppetry and sign language. The New York Times said, “A visit to this republic will not leave the reader unchanged.”
Kaminsky was born into a Jewish family in the former Soviet Union, now Ukraine. He lost most of his hearing at the age of four after a doctor misdiagnosed mumps as a cold. His family was granted political asylum by the United States in 1993, settling in Rochester, New York.
Public events in the series are listed on the Athens Regional Library System website.
NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.
Poetry students read their work at Athens Retreat
- Date: Sunday, May 7
- Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- Location: Athens Retreat, 203 Plum Nelly Road, Athens, GA 30606
College of Education graduate student poets and Melisa Cahnmann-Taylor, professor in the Department of Language and Literacy Education, will have a poetry reading at the former home of UGA faculty and literary scholar Hugh Kenner. All College faculty and students are invited to attend. Light refreshments will be provided.
This location is a part of Athens literary history. Attendees will receive a free copy of the NEA Big Read featured book “Deaf Republic” by Ilya Kaminsky. Featured poets include Haley Allen, Adam Diaz, Elizabeth Dubberly, Skylar Gould, Nancy Heiss, Benjamin Mattice, Lemell Overton, Shelby Rhinehart, Joel Sisson, Shari Thompson, Yixuan Wang, and Jie Zhang.
Featured event: Meet author Ilya Kaminsky 
- Date: Monday, May 8
- Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- Location: Buvez, 585 Barber Street, Suite A
Ilya Kaminsky will read poetry selections from his award-winning book, “Deaf Republic.” Poet Katie Farris will also read selections from her work. An ASL interpreter will be available.