The spring 2017 Thornton Reading will reveal what life is like as a Muslim-American.
Author Rajia Hassib will present a reading from her novel In the Language of Miracles, which was a 2015 New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice, on Thursday, March 2 at 7:30 pm in Sydnor Performance Hall. Her work illustrates the multigenerational experiences of a Muslim-American family as they adjust to America, and as America adjusts to them.
Born in Egypt, Hassib moved to the United States when she was 23. Her writing comes at a tumultuous time in today’s political climate, in which widespread rhetoric casts Muslims in a negative light. “Rajia is outspoken about prejudice and speaks to those issues in today’s political climate with compassion and in an intelligent way,” said English professor Dr. Laura Long.
Multiple Lynchburg English classes are reading Hassib’s novel this semester.
The reading will be followed by a book signing. Copies of In the Language of Miracles are available to be purchased in the campus store. There will also be an informal question and answer session on March 2 from 2:30 – 3:15 pm in the Daura Gallery for students, faculty, and staff.
Hassib received both her BA and MA in English from Marshall University. In addition to In the Language of Miracles, she is an award-winning writer of short stories and critical essays. Currently she resides in Charleston, West Virginia with her husband and two children.
