The Summer Reading Program is the
freshman students’ first introduction to the academic expectations of the
College. As a Marymount freshman, you are required to read The Reluctant Fundamentalist before
arriving on campus in the fall, to attend the faculty panel during Orientation,
and to participate in discussions of the book in your Learning Community
courses.This is the third year of the program. Last year's book selection was The
Complete Persepolis by Marjane
Satrapi and the year before that it was The Omnivore's Dilemma by
Michael Pollan.
Why has MMC instituted a Common Reading
Program?
·
To provide freshmen with a common
reading experience to discuss as they adjust socially and academically to a new
community.
·
To help students see how various
disciplines take different perspectives on a common book, giving them a chance
to discuss ideas with a faculty member in an informal setting before and during
the semester.
·
To provide an incentive to read and
write over the summer -- a form of intellectual exercise that promotes critical
thinking.
·
To engage students from diverse
backgrounds and majors, and expose them to other cultures, parts of the world,
and issues they might not normally encounter.
Will the book be used in classes?
Students are encouraged to read the
book because many professors will be drawing from it to frame discussions and
writing assignments over the fall semester.
Why was
The Reluctant Fundamentalist selected?
The novel was chosen not only because it is an enormously engaging and sophisticated narrative, but because it also challenges readers to think about the universal struggles involved in becoming an adult, the impact of individual and collective memory on consciousness, and the role of religious, social, and political systems in the formation of modern identities. While the media often depicts the U.S. in constant conflict with the Muslim World, The Reluctant Fundamentalist offers an opportunity to examine our assumptions about the region and its peoples, to recognize our common ground, and to acknowledge how our differences impact not only individual lives but our socio-cultural, economic, and political systems as well.
Do
I need to buy a copy of the book?
All students should obtain a copy of The Reluctant Fundamentalist (ISBN:
9780156034029) and read it before arriving at MMC in the fall. The book is widely available in bookstores
and libraries, as well as on-line.