Common Reader Book Reveal for Fall 2023    

The Common Reader Program revealed on April 27 that their selected text for Fall 2023 is Fido Nesti’s graphic novel of George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Originally published in 1949 and intended to portray Orwell’s critique of the excesses of Stalinism, Nineteen Eighty-Four takes place in a dystopian world locked in perpetual war by a totalitarian government, and follows the private struggle of Winston Smith, a middle-class worker who harbors a fierce and silent hate against his government’s oppressive rule. 

Fittingly, leading up to the big reveal, the Common Reader spread printed Reveille-styled Orwellian propaganda across campus to hint at the hidden text.

The book was uncovered at an 80’s-themed book-reveal party, complete with free food, drinks, and music. The book itself, elaborately wrapped, was revealed during a game of crazy-roll, after which attendees were given prize copies as well. The reveal was a success and met with responses of delight and anticipation.

The Common Reader Program is an academic component of TAMUG’s Liberal Studies program which aims to build connections across the core curriculum and expand students’ education on society, critical thinking, culture, and in-depth reading through shared engagement with a common text. 

When asked how the Common Reader arrived at 1984, Dr. Rebecca Ottman, English professor and chair of the Common Reader program, said, “Generally our process is to evaluate a couple books as a committee and then decide on one.” 

Dr. Ottman continued: “With 1984 we wanted to do something that lined up with current and upcoming events we think the book corresponds well with. We thought it’d be interesting to run 1984 in an election cycle and discuss how candidates frame themselves in an election. Or, to talk about language models, parameters around speech and the way we communicate with each other. We try to stay close to what’s going on in contemporary culture, socially, politically, economically, and try to think of a book that will engage our particular student population.”

Another way the program engaged with students this semester was a series of movie nights. The films included El Norte, La Llorona, Roma, and 499. These showings were headed by English professor Dr. Timothy Ballingall, affiliated faculty with the Common Reader Program, who stated that he “has enjoyed working with the committee and is looking forward to helping with more movie nights and incorporating the new text into his ENGL 210 course.”

The Common Reader Program also employs a number of student ambassadors. One ambassador, who chose to remain anonymous, explained their role: “Being a Common Reader ambassador means I have the role of reaching out to students across campus through a text that has an impact, not only promoting the activity of reading but also encouraging Sea Aggies to think about real issues, in this case through the lens of fiction.” 

And in regards to the newly revealed book the ambassador stated, “This book is really exciting for the program because of the themes it covers, especially for the current political atmosphere. It touches on authoritarianism, propaganda, rights of privacy, war, dystopia, even isolation, just issues around us that become more and more relevant in a digital age.”

Members of the Common Reader program unanimously agreed that a significant quality about this text is the fact it is a graphic novel version of the original book, and they are interested in how the visual factor will affect students’ reaction and engagement with the text. 

For next academic year, students all across TAMUG can look forward to reading and analyzing this dystopian masterpiece in their English, History, and Political Science courses.