The Commons Reading for the 2015-16 academic year is The Madonnas of Echo Park by Brando Skyhorse.
The Commons Reading, an annual tradition, is a book mailed to all incoming first-year students to be read during the summer before they arrive on campus. The reading will be discussed at The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons and across campus during the students’ Vanderbilt Visions groups and in other contexts. Students also will have the opportunity to hear the author speak on campus Sept. 27.
Deborah Donovan in Booklist describes the novel as follows:
“Echo Park, the Los Angeles neighborhood down the hill from Chavez Ravine, is the setting for this novel-in-stories—a vivid portrayal of the lives of Mexican Americans who live and work there. Skyhorse (Mexican himself, but given his stepfather’s last name) weaves his characters—migrant farm workers, gardeners, dishwashers, bus drivers, house cleaners, gang members—in and out of his stories in various time frames. These are the people we pass every day and never give much thought. Now Skyhorse demands our attention as he deftly humanizes their stories. … Eye-opening and haunting, Skyhorse’s novel will jolt readers out of their complacence.”
The Vanderbilt community is encouraged to read the work and contribute to a campus-wide discussion on the text or issues of immigration. Those who have questions or are interested in collaborative efforts may contact Nina Warnke, assistant dean for academic affairs in the Office of the Dean of The Ingram Commons, at nina.warnke@vanderbilt.edu.