THE GREAT AMERICAN READ is an eight-part series that explores and celebrates the power of reading, told through the prism of America’s 100 best-loved novels (as chosen in a national survey). It investigates how and why writers create their fictional worlds, how we as readers are affected by these stories, and what these 100 different books have to say about our diverse nation and our shared human experience.

The television series features entertaining and informative documentary segments, with compelling testimonials from celebrities, authors, notable Americans and book lovers across the country. It is comprised of a two-hour launch episode in which the list of 100 books is revealed, five one-hour theme episodes that examine concepts common to groups of books on the list, and a finale, in which the results are announced of a nationwide vote to choose America’s best-loved book.

The series is the centerpiece of an ambitious multi-platform digital, educational and community outreach campaign, designed to get the country reading and passionately talking about books.

Three Central New York libraries received Great American Read grant awards and WCNY is delighted to be working with them. Each library’s Great American Read programs and events are listed below.
Learn More About the Great American Read at the Great New York State Fair! Visit the NYS Libraries exhibit in the Science and Industry building.

The Central New area has had many famous writers who either called Central New York home or had some sort of Central New York connection. Arguably, the most famous is L. Frank Baum, author of the Wizard of Oz.

Although a Chittenango resident, Baum scholars say that he spent part of his later childhood living in Roselawn, a mansion in the small community of Mattydale north of the city of Syracuse. The mansion, purchased by Baum’s father with profits from his oil business, stood along America’s first plank road, constructed of hemlock, a wood yellow in color – perhaps the inspiration for the famed Yellow Brick Road?

He lived in the Fayetteville home of Matilda Joslyn Gage, who was one of the authors of the first three volumes of the History of Woman Suffrage (along with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton). Baum had married Gage’s daughter, Maud, in the parlor of the Gage home. It is said that Matilda urged Baum to write down the stories he liked to tell, tales that became the Wizard of Oz series.

John Berendt, who was in the class of 1957 at Syracuse’s Nottingham High School, authored the non-fiction work about a murder trial in Savannah, Georgia, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil that became a movie directed by Clint Eastwood.

Children and adults alike are familiar with the children’s book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, called the most successful picture book after Peter Rabbit. Eric Carle, born in 1929 in Syracuse, wrote over 70 books.

Raymond Carver, born in Oregon, taught at Syracuse University. A short-story writer and poet, he is credited with reviving the short story genre in the 1980s. Cathedral, his collection of short stories, is usually considered his best work. The Syracuse home he shared with poet Tess Gallagher, who became his wife, was so popular it was said that they hung a sign outside of it that said “Writers At Work” to get some peace and quiet!

Bruce Coville, a Syracuse native, has over 100 young readers’ books to his credit, including many audio books.

Stephen Crane, author of Red Badge of Courage, often required high school reading, attended Syracuse University in 1891 and wrote for Syracuse newspapers. The New Jersey native never graduated from SU and died of tuberculosis at age 28.

Donna Woolfolk Cross, born in New York City who has taught at Onondaga Community College, is the author of several non-fiction works and the novel, Pope Joan, about a female Catholic pope from 853 to 855.

Junot Díaz, born in the Dominican Republic, is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, which won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize. He is a former Syracuse University English professor.

We have all heard of Charles Dickens. He visited Syracuse in 1868, where he gave a reading from his A Christmas Carol. He described Syracuse as “the most wonderful, out-of-the-world place, which looks like it had begun to be built yesterday and was going to be imperfectly knocked together with a nail or two the day after tomorrow.”

Amy Dickinson was born and still lives in the Ithaca area. She is the author of The Mighty Queens of Freeville and is the syndicated advice columnist, “Ask Amy.”

We have Helen Durney to thank for Dumbo, the Flying Elephant! She was a Syracuse artist who, in the 1920s, lived in Syracuse with her parents. According to Dick Case a Syracuse newspaper reporter and author, Helen was the illustrator of the book, Dumbo, The Flying Elephant, by Helen Aberson and her husband, Harold Pearl, who created him in 1938. Helen was a native Syracusan; Harold came to the city from New York City to manage the Eckel Theater.

The beloved, The Black Stallion, was written by Walter Farley, known for his works for children. He was born 1915 in Syracuse and grew up on Tipperary Hill.

1. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, among other works, spent part of his childhood in Syracuse.

Tim Green is a Liverpool native, Syracuse University graduate and retired NFL football player who has become a best-selling author of both adult and children’s fiction.

Alex Haley, author of Roots among other works, was born in Ithaca and spent several years in his childhood there.

Texan Mary Karr, a Syracuse University professor of literature and creative writing, authored The Liar’s Club among other books and poems. Well-known author Joyce Carol Oates, a Lockport, NY native, graduated as valedictorian of her Syracuse University class in 1960 with a degree in English. She has written numerous stories, poems, essays, and books including them, which won the National Book Award.

Rod Serling, playwright, screenwriter, and The Twilight Zone TV series writer and producer, was born in 1924 in Syracuse and grew up in Binghamton.

E.B. White, author of the timeless children’s classics, Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little was a Cornell University graduate.

The short story writer and novelist, Tobias Wolff, had a 17 year teaching career at Syracuse University. Some of his better-known works are This Boy’s Life and In Pharaoh’s Army.

There are so many other published writers connected to Central New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Mohawk Valley, including WCNY’s own Debbie Stack, who with Captain Ron Marquisee, co-authored Cruising America’s Waterways: The Erie Canal. If you’d like to share information about other area writers, please send it to education@wcny.org.

View the List of Best Summer Reading Books for Kids!

Major production funding provided by Anne Ray Foundation, A Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropy. Engagement funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Anne Ray Foundation, A Margaret A Cargill Philanthropy.

Title: George Saunders on Writing Fiction
Description: George Saunders is a celebrated author and Professor of English at Syracuse University. He is the author of numerous short stories, essays, and novels including Lincoln in the Bardo (2017), Pastoralia (2000), and CivilWarLand in Bad Decline (1996). In this segment, Saunders sits down with WCNY’s Kevin Miller to discuss the art of fiction writing, writer’s block, and finding an authentic voice as an author.
Featured Individuals: George Saunders – Author; Kevin Miller – WCNY Host

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Title: Tina Nabinger discusses her unique Book Cooks Library Program
Description: Tina Nabinger, a teacher and librarian from Central New York, has combined her love of books and cooking to create an innovative new program for her elementary students called Book Cooks. In this segment, Nabinger discusses Book Cooks, helping children find that perfect book, and the importance of reading every day.
Featured Individuals: Tina Nabinger – teacher and librarian at Minoa Elementary School

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Title: The YMCA Young Authors Academy
Description: Young writers who show promise and aptitude find their voice at this workshop series led by a professional author and poet. The YMCA hosts ongoing sessions where high school aged writers are treated as artists – and taught advanced writing, comprehension and analytical skills. The leader and guest authors provide insight and feedback on the writing projects that the young writers are drafting. All participants are encouraged to share their ideas, their perspectives, their struggles and triumphs with their mentors and each other – all in attempt to help foster the next generation of great authors.
Featuring: Georgia Popoff, Poet
@YMCACNY
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ymcacny/

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Title: The Book Barn of the Finger lakes
Description: At the Book Barn of the Finger Lakes, the art of independent bookselling is alive and well. Owner and architect Vladimir Dragan shares his experiences culling America’s published literature to find and make available those works often overlooked or long forgotten. We learn what trends he has seen come and go, what makes a novel great, why lesser known authors should get more attention and how he is preserving the depth of American literature when libraries don’t have the room.
Featuring: Vladimir Dragan, Owner
Facebook: @bookbarnofthefingerlakes

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Title: Jackie Warren Moore – Poet
Description: Poet Jackie Warren Moore talks about how reading as a young child saved her life.

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Title: Jaime Alicea – Superintendent Syracuse City Schools
Description: The Syracuse City School Superintendent talks about the role of reading in a well- rounded education.

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Title: Dave Eichorn – Meteorologist and Wood Craftsman

Description: Dave Eichorn shares his story on why a book about a rare tree changed his entire approach to reading and his craft.