Behind the Scenes of The Big Read | Rebecca Holderness

Thursday 23-05-2019 - 11:26
Rebecca holderness

Towards the end of my first year as a Creative Writing student, I’ve already had some brilliant experiences that I’d never imagined I could be part of. Everything began when I applied for the job of ‘Big Read Shortlisting Assistant’ with the university.  

After being accepted for the job (!), I was then quickly involved in two trips to London Kingston University to be part of a selection panel, helping to choose the next Big Read book for 2019 to 2020.

 

What exactly is The Big Read?

The Big Read is a shared reading scheme established by Kingston University where one book is sent out to all new university students over summer, giving them something to talk about and engage with as soon as they arrive on campus. Being part of the first batch of students to receive the Big Read 2018, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, I have had first-hand experience of what it is like to be gifted a book before moving to university.

As a book lover anyway, unpacking a freshly-delivered novel was an exciting moment. But the Big Read isn’t just targeted at literature lovers. The scheme is also about engaging people who may have little experience with books. Therefore, when debating the most suitable novel for the Big Read 2019, it was important to bear in mind that not everyone is a strong and experienced reader.

We carefully evaluated the pros and cons of every book, looking into everything from how suitable or controversial the themes were to the likeability of the protagonist or main characters.

 

My two trips to London

In order to be part of the Big Read selection panel, myself, a second-year student, and two members of Edge Hill staff travelled down to London for one overnight trip in April and a second trip in May. We represented our university in helping to decide the most suitable title for those arriving soon to start their undergraduate studies.

At the first selection panel, we narrowed down the original shortlist of books to a chosen four. Then, at the beginning of May, we cast our votes again to decide the final Big Read novel. I was thrilled to find out that the book which had been my initial preference, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce, was chosen to be distributed to upcoming students in September.

Having only been to London a couple of times at high school, it was a lovely opportunity to be able to take in a few sights of Kingston-Upon-Thames and to pass through stations I’d only ever heard of, such as Euston, whilst I was there.

Of course, there was serious work involved too!

At the London-based university, where the Big Read was founded by Alison Baverstock, I found myself seated as part of the book selection panel, made up of individuals including Kingston staff, postgraduate students and representatives of Wolverhampton and Edge Hill University.

It felt quite surreal to be part of such an important decision-making committee. As the only first-year undergraduate in the room, and the only person who had been personally delivered the Big Read book in 2018, it was an honour to be able to argue the most suitable book for next year’s intake of new students.

 

What more has my job role entailed?

Not only have I had two exciting trips to London, but I’ve also worked in the Student Experience office helping to prepare the university for the second year of Big Read activities. Updating webpages with new information and photographs, brainstorming book-related activities, writing blog posts and articles about my experience and designing eye-catching posters have been just some of my responsibilities.

I’m so grateful for how welcome the staff made me feel at all times, and how well-received my ideas and contributions were.

I’m looking forward to September and seeing all the Harold-related activities that will be taking place around the Edge Hill campus! Working for The Big Read has been such a career-enhancing opportunity and has given me great insight into the brilliant reading scheme that I’m proud to have been a part of.

I even have my name on an academic paper written about the initiative – how unbelievable is that?!

 

Got an Edge Hill story to tell? Want to write one of our Student Spotlight Blogs? Give us an email at sucomms@edgehill.ac.uk so we can have a chat!

 

Related Tags :

More Edge Hill University Students' Union Articles

More Articles...