Jacaranda authors make the Kingston Big Read

Anietie Isong‘s Nigerian satire, Radio Sunrise and Jess de Boer‘s eco-travel memoir The Elephant and the Bee, have both been shortlisted for the Kingston University Big Read 2017.

Initially created as part of a research project, the initiative is the first of its kind in the UK and aims to welcome new students while also encouraging a sense of belonging and wider reading across campus and the broader community.

According to former Kingston University Vice Chancellor, Julius Weinberg:

“We are looking for a Big Read – a title that is widely accessible, appeals to our ethos and is likely to provoke good discussion and debate across the University. We want to choose a book that supports a conversation to which we can all contribute.”

Previous winners of the prize include bestselling authors Matt Haig (TheHumans) and Nick Hornby (About a Boy).

Anietie and Jess are 2 authors from a shortlist of 6, which was selected from a longer list of 140 books using the scientific assistance of a special algorithm. A further shortlist will be announced by the 20-strong Selection Committee on April 3rd, and the final winner will be revealed on Thursday, April 13th.

The Kingston Big Read 2017 shortlist

1. The Power by Naomi Alderman
2. My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal
3. Radio Sunrise by Anietie Isong
4. The Elephant and the Bee by Jess de Boer
5. The Brilliant and the Forever by Kevin MacNeil
6. The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell

Visit the KU Big Read site for more details.
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