As part of the University’s Creative Writing Reading Series, writer Lan Samantha Chang will give a free public reading of her book “Hunger,” a collection of short narratives about the experiences of Chinese immigrants who move to America.
She will hold the reading in the Browsing Room of the Knight Library at 8 p.m. tonight.
Chang is a fellow at Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University but is taking a break to work on a new novel.
“The stories explore the tension the characters face between their past and future as the country they were in begins receding further and further from their memory,” Chang said.
The novella Chang will read from revolves around a child torn between obeying her parents and being independent.
“It’s a generational conflict between the parents and the children,” she said.
Debra Gwartney, administrative director for the creative writing program, said every writer who participates in the program’s reading series holds a book reading, visits creative writing classes and meets with graduate students.
“I think Chang will really be able to relate to our graduate students because she’s young and new,” she said.
Chang is only one of about 10 fiction and poetry writers who visit the University each academic year, Gwartney said, adding that the program has existed for more than 10 years.
“The series has proven to be a main component for community outreach for the creative writing program,” she said.
Russell Tomlin, associate dean for humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences, said the reading series receives support from the college because creative writing is an independent program through the college’s humanities department.
Tomlin, who attends most of the writers’ presentations, said the audience experiences “the real thing.”
“These are some of the finest voices in writing America right now,” he said.