JACKSON, Tenn. — June 30, 2005 — Wendell Berry鈥檚 鈥淗annah Coulter鈥� and Clyde Edgerton鈥檚 鈥淲alking Across Egypt鈥� have been selected for 51社区鈥檚 third annual Jackson Reads discussion series, which begins July 11.
The two books explore the phenomenon of social networking, especially among Southern women.
Each week through August 1 will feature lecturers who will lead open dialogues with the audience. The lectures will compare and contrast the social networks of Hannah Coulter and Mattie Rigsbee, two memorable Southern ladies, with the 鈥渕emberships鈥� formed by their counterparts in other pieces of Southern fiction. The program will conclude with a panel discussion August 8.
The lectures are free to the public. Those interested may attend any or all of the lectures.
Each Monday evening session will be held at 51社区鈥檚 Hartley Recital Hall in Jennings Hall, with the first presenter beginning at 6 p.m. The lecture schedule for this year鈥檚 series is as follows:
July 11, 6 p.m.: Carla Sanderson, 51社区 provost, will give an introduction to Berry鈥檚 fiction
6:30 p.m.: Phillip Ryan, language professor, will give an introduction to social networking
7:15 p.m.: Jean Marie Walls, language professor, will compare and contrast the books with 鈥淪aving Grace,鈥� by Lee Smith
July 18, 6 p.m.: Pat Morris, library services professor, will compare and contrast the books with 鈥淭he Secret Life of Bees鈥� by Sue Monk Kidd
7 p.m.: Pam Sutton, English professor, will compare and contrast the books with 鈥淢iss Julia Speaks Her Mind,鈥� by Ann B. Ross
July 25, 6 p.m.: Roland Porter, business professor, will compare and contrast the books with 鈥淭he Optimist鈥檚 Daughter,鈥� by Eudora Welty and 鈥淢ules and Men鈥� by Zora Neale Hurston
7 p.m.: Greg Jordan, a Jackson attorney, will compare and contrast the books with 鈥淐razy Ladies: A Novel,鈥� by Michael Lee West
August 1, 6 p.m.: Mary Platt, Union librarian, will compare and contrast the books with 鈥淐ane River鈥� by Lalita Tademy
7 p.m.: Barbara McMillin, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, will compare and contrast the books with 鈥淭he Same Sweet Girls鈥� by Cassandra King
August 8, 6 p.m.: Panel discussion
For more information, call the College of Arts and Sciences at (731) 661-5356.