Common Reading
What is the Common Reading?
All incoming freshmen students are expected to read the 2012 Common Reading; Ready Player One authored by Ernest Cline. A New York Times bestseller, the book has received a lot of praise; author Terry Brooks writes, "Fascinating and imaginative... gamers must navigate clever puzzles and outwit determined enemies in a virtual world in order to save a real one. Readers are in for a wild ride." Not only is this an exciting book, but the University of Massachusetts is the first school in the nation to select this book for their Common Read!
When and where do I get my book?
All students attending Summer NSO will be provided with their free copy of Ready Player One during their session.
Ernest Cline
When you get back in the Fall, author Ernest Cline will be joining us on campus on Friday, August 31st to deliver the key note address during the Freshmen Convocation ceremony!
Book Discussions and Preparation
Please be sure to read the book carefully and with the intention of discussing it with your classmates and discussion facilitators. Look at the Common Read as the thread woven into the fabric of your entire First Year Experience, connecting you to all your classmates.
All students will participate in a discussion about the book's major themes as well as their perceptions, feelings, and questions regarding the text. These discussions will be faciliated by faculty and staff members and provide an exciting opportunity to create a common experience that unites the UMass community.
Online Discussions
To get the ready for the discussions in the fall, be sure to visit the Common Read Blog and engage with classmates, faculty and staff there as well! You can also engage via twitter using tags #ReadyUMass #UMass2016 and #ReadyPlayerOne as well as on the New Students Orientation facebook page!
