Incoming Freshmen to Read Dave Eggers' 'What is the What'

Duke’s summer reading assignment is now in its seventh year.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Durham, NC -- Duke University’s Class of 2012 already has its first homework assignment -– to read this summer Dave Eggers’ “What is the What,” a novel about a group of Sudanese refugees who struggled to survive during Sudan’s Civil War. It tells the story of Valentino Achak Deng, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, who was separated from his family and ultimately relocated as a young adult to the United States.

“‘What is the What’ is an extremely captivating read,” said Ryan Lombardi, associate dean of students and co-chair of the summer reading selection committee. “Although it is a novel, it portrays a very real account of the plight of Sudanese refugees.”

Now in its seventh year, Duke’s summer reading assignment is designed to orient students to the life of a college community by stimulating debate and introspection, said Lee Willard, associate dean in the Office of Undergraduate Education and a member of the committee that considered more than 80 nominations.

“The issues of Sudan, genocide, identity and the plight of refugees are important issues of our time,” Willard said. “This book also builds upon Duke’s tradition of civic engagement, as well as addresses the incredible student interest in Africa.”

Students will receive a copy of the book this summer and are expected to finish it before August orientation. At that time, they will participate in small-group discussions led by older students.

Jin-Soo Huh, a junior from California and a member of the selection committee, said he expects that students will like the book as much as he did, even though the subject matter is not light.

“It’s about tragedy, but it’s also about hope and Deng’s amazingly resilient spirit,” Huh said. “I never could imagine living through it, but it really humanized the issue. It’s told in such a beautiful way.”

Adam Nathan, a sophomore from New York who has read the book, said he thought other students would like it as well and praised the committee’s choice.

“Eggers does a wonderful job of displaying the universal quest for community, stability and family -- a true home -- in the midst of a changing and unstable world,” Nathan said. “I was very much moved by the book, and think it will resonate with freshmen who themselves will encounter the wonderful opportunities and challenges in transitioning to college.”

The selection committee used results from an online survey to help make a decision, Lombardi said. Students, faculty and staff could give feedback online about the five finalists and indicate which one they’d like the committee to choose. About 145 people completed the survey and provided comments for the committee to consider.

“We were really pleased with the engagement of the broader community in the process,” Lombardi said.

The other finalists were “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini; “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin; “The Poisonwood Bible” by Barbara Kingsolver; and “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” by Jonathan Safran Foer.

A special Duke reprint of the book is being coordinated with Random House and will be ready in time for distribution to students. Lombardi said he hopes to have the author visit campus this fall to discuss the book.

Past Duke summer reading assignment books have included: “Best of Enemies” by Osha Gray Nelson (in 2007); “My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult (in 2006); “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini (in 2005); “Mountains Beyond Mountains” by Tracy Kidder (in 2004); “Savage Inequalities” by Jonathan Kozol (in 2003); and “The Palace Thief” by Ethan Canin (in 2002).