A General Studies Common Read experience, Big Read at 蘑菇视频网 (CWI) invites the entire CWI community and Treasure Valley to explore one book together.
Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Big Read is a nationwide program that sparks conversation, connection, and discovery. Join us to explore new perspectives, celebrate creativity, and connect with others through engaging events, cultural activities, and meaningful dialogue.
The Big Read selection for 2025 is by Sam J. Miller.
After the climate wars, a floating city is constructed in the Arctic Circle, a remarkable feat of mechanical and social engineering, complete with geothermal heating and sustainable energy. The city’s denizens have become accustomed to a roughshod new way of living, however, the city is starting to fray along the edges — crime and corruption have set in, the contradictions of incredible wealth alongside direst poverty are spawning unrest, and a new disease called “the breaks” is ravaging the population.
When a strange new visitor arrives — a woman riding an Orca, with a polar bear at her side—the city is entranced. The “orcamancer,” as she’s known, very subtly brings together four people, each living on the periphery, to stage unprecedented acts of resistance. By banding together to save their city before it crumbles under the weight of its own decay, they will learn shocking truths about themselves.
"Blackfish City" is a remarkably urgent, and ultimately very hopeful, novel about political corruption, organized crime, technology run amok, the consequences of climate change, and the unifying power of human connection.
Join us for a dynamic lineup of events that turn reading into a shared experience. The Big Read kicks off with free book giveaways, followed by thought-provoking discussions, and unique events that explore the book’s themes through art, culture, and community connection.
More information coming soon!
Sam J. Miller is the last in a long line of butchers and the Nebula-Award-winning author of "The Art of Starving", one of NPR's best books of the year. His second novel, "Blackfish City" was a must read according to Entertainment Weekly and O: The Oprah Magazine and one of the best books of 2018 according to the Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, and more. He lives in New York City, and at .
Meet Miller on campus this spring. Stay tuned for details!
This project was supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Midwest.聽To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit聽.
