The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts, designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with Arts Midwest.
WNIN partners with the University of Southern Indiana to record and broadcast interviews pertaining to the book promoted by The Big Read. This year, it’s The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. USI students interviewed Depression-era survivors for this program. The students’ comments are included following some of the survivor interviews.
The first interview is with Gerry Hammers, with student comments by Jonathan Boettcher
The next segment is Mel Peterson, interviewed by Cara Hoskins
In our next segment, Mary Schmitt, who was interviewed by her granddaughter, Tessa Livers
There are a number of book discussions and other public events in the month of February related to The Big Read. More information is available, at usi.edu/bigread.
Up next, Chris Nix, who interviewed by Zach Cook
Finally, we hear from Mamie Dowell, also interviewed by Cara Hoskins.