Big Read novel way to spur reading 11/21/2007 Editorial Read a good book lately? From January to June of next year, a lot of people in Owensboro will be able to answer that question with a resounding yes. Here's the reading list of 16 famous novels communities participating in a national program called The Big Read will select from to read together next year: "Fahrenheit 451," "My Ántonia," "The Great Gatsby," "A Lesson Before Dying," "The Maltese Falcon," "A Farewell to Arms," "Their Eyes Were Watching God," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "The Call of the Wild," "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter," "The Shawl," "The Grapes of Wrath," "The Death of Ivan Ilyich," "The Joy Luck Club" and "The Age of Innocence." Of course, we're talking big hitters here: Ray Bradbury, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Edith Wharton, Ernest Gaines, John Steinbeck and Harper Lee, to name a few. According to its Web site, The Big Read is an effort by the National Endowment for the Arts aimed at revitalizing literary reading in American culture. A 2004 NEA report revealed a big drop in pleasure reading by American adults. The Big Read offers people the opportunity to read and discuss one of the books in their communities. Owensboro Community & Technical College and several local partners received a $7,500 grant to participate in The Big Read. The steering committee of the group has selected the 1989 international best-seller "The Joy Luck Club," by then-unknown first-time writer Amy Tan, to read and discuss in this community. More than 30 discussions and related activities will take place in Owensboro as part of the program, which will begin in February. Newspapers have an intrinsic interest in the public's willingness to read, so we are glad to support a literacy initiative such as The Big Read. We hope a large number of people will take part. Anyone who has ever found themselves engrossed in a great novel understands the pleasure it can bring. Across the nation, 127 communities will be participating in The Big Read next year. It's good that this community will be one of them.