OCTC's Common Reading Selection "Bright Dead Things" by Ada Limon, United States Poet Laureate

Author Keynote Presentation, Brunch, and Book Reading and Signing on Oct. 18, 2023

by Katie Powers

Owensboro, KY (08/28/2023) — Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC) invites the community to participate in all related events for this fall's upcoming Common Reading event. The book for Fall 2023 semester is Bright Dead Things by Ada Limon, United States Poet Laureate.

Limon is scheduled to visit us Wednesday, October 18, 2023 for a keynote presentation, book reading, and book signing at 12:30 p.m. in Blandford Lecture Hall in the Humanities building on OCTC's Main Campus; the event is open to the public. The college reserves the option to adjust events. All events related to the Common Reading will be posted online at facebook.com/octccommonread and are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact kaye.brown@kctcs.edu.

About the Author and the Book

From Sonoma, California to New York City to Lexington, Kentucky, United States Poet Laureate, Ada Limon faced challenges and tragedies that gave life to Bright Dead Things--one of six collections of poetry she has authored. Bright Dead Things was a finalist for the 2015 National Book Award, National Book Critics Circle Award, and named a Top-ten Book of Poetry in 2015 by the New York Times.

From the publisher: "A book of bravado and introspection, of 21st century feminist swagger and harrowing terror and loss, this fourth collection considers how we build our identities out of place and human contact-tracing in intimate detail the various ways the speaker's sense of self both shifts and perseveres as she moves from New York City to rural Kentucky, loses a dear parent, ages past the capriciousness of youth, and falls in love."

OCTC Professor of English, MFA and Common Reading Program Co-Chair, Tonya Northenor said, "This book invites readers to think more deeply about everything from horse racing and Kentucky wildflowers to grief, love, and marriage. There is hope and unity in the poems, even as they are raw and honest."

What does it mean to be the United States Poet Laureate?

Another name for this appointment is the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. Ada Limon began her 1-year term as the 24th United States Poet Laureate in July of 2022, and she was reappointed for a 2-year term which begins September of 2023. The position seeks to raise national awareness and appreciation to the reading and writing of poetry.

OCTC Professor of English, NEH Endowment Chair, Study Abroad Coordinator, and Common Reading Program Co-Chair, Kaye Brown added, "We've had some students worried about whether or not they would "get" poetry, but a lot of them are willing and excited to discuss poems and share their interpretations. I think Ada Limon's visit will open the doors even wider for our students to "get" poetry."

To learn more about the United States Poet Laureate program, visit https://www.loc.gov/programs/poetry-and-literature/poet-laureate/.

Heads Up!

Spring 2024 will be the 20th year anniversary of the Owensboro Community & Technical College Common Reading Program. Book and author selection and date, to be announced.

Media Attachments