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Humanities Express
- Publisher: College of Humanities of The Ohio State University
- Volume IIII Issue 8
- August 2008
- Humanities Express Home
Humanities Program Spotlight:
The Language of Baklava book cover
When over 6,000 freshmen arrive on the Ohio State campus this fall, they will have more in common then the obvious one of beginning their college career. They will also have the shared experienced of being part of the largest book club in the nation through the Buckeye Book Community (BBC).
Sponsored by Ohio State's First Year Experience, the BBC provides a complimentary copy of one of two 2008 BBC selections to students during orientation. More than just providing a good summer read, the selections, as determined by academic colleges/schools, are designed to create a context for conversation about issues of importance in today's world. When students return to campus autumn quarter they will be prepared to discuss the book and participate in a variety of campus programs, including author visits, expert panels, and faculty lead discussion groups to explore the issues from the perspective of their specific fields of study.
Students in the arts and sciences received The Language of Baklava, a memoir by Diana Abu-Jaber, an award-winning author and current Writer-in-Residence at Portland State University. The "language" of Abu-Jaber's memoir takes many forms: American life, Jordanian culture, memory, recipes—and even a chapter on HTML. Mostly, it's Abu-Jaber's journey between the two diverse cultures of her life—living in New York and growing up with her Jordanian father, Bud (aka Ghassen Saleh). Along the way, she introduces a cast of eccentric characters, unique locales (shish kabob cookouts at Lake Ontario, goat stew feasts in the desert), and recipes that range from American college student (Grilled Velveeta Sandwiches) to Mediterranean treats (Mad Genius Knaffea). Says one reviewer, "The Language of Baklava irresistibly invites us to sit down at the table with Diana's family, sharing unforgettable meals that turn out to be as much about grace, difference, faith, love as they are about food." And according to Entertainment Weekly, it is "A culinary memoir that's as delectable for its stories as for its accompanying recipes. . . . Rich, dense, and flavorful."
Special thanks go to Professor of English Michelle Herman, who is again serving as coordinator of the Freshman Common Book Program for the Colleges of the Arts and Sciences.
A Good Summer Read Provides a Shared Experience for Freshmen
The Language of Baklava book cover
Sponsored by Ohio State's First Year Experience, the BBC provides a complimentary copy of one of two 2008 BBC selections to students during orientation. More than just providing a good summer read, the selections, as determined by academic colleges/schools, are designed to create a context for conversation about issues of importance in today's world. When students return to campus autumn quarter they will be prepared to discuss the book and participate in a variety of campus programs, including author visits, expert panels, and faculty lead discussion groups to explore the issues from the perspective of their specific fields of study.
Students in the arts and sciences received The Language of Baklava, a memoir by Diana Abu-Jaber, an award-winning author and current Writer-in-Residence at Portland State University. The "language" of Abu-Jaber's memoir takes many forms: American life, Jordanian culture, memory, recipes—and even a chapter on HTML. Mostly, it's Abu-Jaber's journey between the two diverse cultures of her life—living in New York and growing up with her Jordanian father, Bud (aka Ghassen Saleh). Along the way, she introduces a cast of eccentric characters, unique locales (shish kabob cookouts at Lake Ontario, goat stew feasts in the desert), and recipes that range from American college student (Grilled Velveeta Sandwiches) to Mediterranean treats (Mad Genius Knaffea). Says one reviewer, "The Language of Baklava irresistibly invites us to sit down at the table with Diana's family, sharing unforgettable meals that turn out to be as much about grace, difference, faith, love as they are about food." And according to Entertainment Weekly, it is "A culinary memoir that's as delectable for its stories as for its accompanying recipes. . . . Rich, dense, and flavorful."
Special thanks go to Professor of English Michelle Herman, who is again serving as coordinator of the Freshman Common Book Program for the Colleges of the Arts and Sciences.
