Links to information for the current Common Reading

OCTC's Common Reading

Links to information for the Spring 2008 Common Reading & Owensboro's The Big Read:

The Joy Luck Club

Student feedback - The Joy Luck Club: "Out of all the books that I have been required to read I would say this is my favorite." "This book was very interesting and I think this book has caused me to want to read more often." "I'm glad that I decided to attend The Big Read [Kick-Off]; I learned a few new things, hear some new music and experienced another culture." "If you could not find something in this book to which you could relate, you obviously were not looking." "Overall the book was such a learning experience for me."

Information about Owensboro's The Big Read:

Click here to see Owensboro's Big Read Photo Gallery (photos are still being added).

Owensboro's The Big Read calendar (events are still being added): http://www.neabigread.org/events.php?mode=communityCalendar&communityID=2713

The Big Read survey (if you've participated, please fill out a survey): http://www.neabigread.org/survey.php

Contact persons for Owensboro's The Big Read: http://www.octc.kctcs.edu/reading/contact%20persons.htm

Beyond The Big Read: Some other Owensboro-area arts events in Spring 2008: http://www.octc.kctcs.edu/reading/other%20events.htm

Owensboro's Big Read sponsors and partners: http://www.neabigread.org/communities/phase2/cycle1/Owensboro.php

Read articles about The Big Read from Owensboro's Messenger-Inquirer newspaper: http://www.octc.kctcs.edu/reading/articles%20from%20messenger.htm

Information about The Joy Luck Club:

Preface to the book and links to information and teaching resources at The Big Read site: http://www.neabigread.org/books/joyluckclub/

SparkNotes information about the book, grouped by topic: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/joyluck/

Information by topic and chapter about the book: http://www.bookrags.com/notes/jlc/

One Book, One Community resource guide & various helpful links: http://www.duluth.lib.mn.us/Programs/JoyLuckClub/ResourceGuide.html

Summary and various notes and information, grouped by topic: http://www.enotes.com/joy-luck/

PBS Kids website for Sagwa, one of Amy Tan's books for children, now a television show: http://pbskids.org/sagwa/

Information about Amy Tan, the author:

Amy Tan's homepage: http://www.amytan.net/

Biographical Information at The Big Read site: http://www.neabigread.org/books/joyluckclub/joyluck04_about.php

Academy of Achievement biography: http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/tan0bio-1

New! Interview with Amy Tan on NPR about the disappearing Dong people of China: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89943080

Biographical Information: http://www.duluth.lib.mn.us/Programs/JoyLuckClub/Bio.html

Biography, with bibliography: http://voices.cla.umn.edu/vg/Bios/entries/tan_amy.html

Book reviews and assorted links: http://www.nytimes.com/books/01/02/18/specials/tan.html

"Mother Tongue" essay by Amy Tan: http://people.virginia.edu/~pmc4b/spring98/readings/Mother.html

Interview with Amy Tan: http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/tan0int-1

Interview with Amy Tan (Salon): http://www.salon.com/12nov1995/feature/tan.html

Recorded interview with Amy Tan: http://www.kqed.org/epArchive/R511011000

Recorded interview with Amy Tan: http://wiredforbooks.org/amytan/

The Rock Bottom Remainders, rock band composed of writers: http://www.rockbottomremainders.com/default.htm

Information about Chinese / Chinese-American culture:

Chinese New Year information (animals): http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/festivals/chinese/animals.html

Information about Chinese culture at the Chinese-American Cultural Bridge Center: http://www.cacbc.org/Culture/default.htm

Chronology of Asian-American history: http://web.mit.edu/21h.153j/www/chrono.html

Information about the Chinese New Year: http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/festival/newyear/newyear.html

Links to various informational sites about Chinese-American culture: http://www.camla.org/resource/resource.htm

The Crane House, The Asia Institute of Louisville KY: http://www.cranehouse.org/index.php

Other Resources:

OCTC's library (copies of the book to check out are available along with other resources): http://www.octc.kctcs.edu/library/

Daviess County Public Library website (copies of the book to check out or via e-book are available along with other resources): http://dcplibrary.org/. The DCPL Big Read site is: http://dcplibrary.org/library_news/126

Owensboro Museum of Science and History: http://www.owensboromuseum.com/

The Learning Community of Greater Owensboro: http://www.golearningcommunity.com/

The Community Foundation of Owensboro-Daviess County: http://www.cflouisville.org/page14784.cfm

Owensboro's Riverpark Center: http://www.riverparkcenter.org/

*PLEASE NOTE: ANYONE USING INFORMATION FROM ANY OF THESE WEBSITES IN THEIR WRITTEN WORK SHOULD PROPERLY CITE THE INFORMATION THEY ARE USING. (FOR MLA STYLE CITING TIPS: http://www.mla.org/style).