Camarillo, Calif., Oct. 19, 2015 – Award-winning author Karen Joy Fowler explores what it really means to be human through the eyes of a young woman raised with a chimpanzee in her 2013 bestseller: “We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves.”
Fowler will discuss her book from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29 at CSU Channel Islands’ (CI) 13th Annual Campus Reading Celebration.
“We Are Completely Beside Ourselves” is told from the point of view of 18-year-old Rosemary, who evaluates how she was affected by a primate family member named Fern whom Rosemary loved like a sister.
The book reveals where Fern went and gives an alternately humorous and evocative take on how Rosemary’s psychologist father’s animal-human experiment affected everyone involved.
Organizers expect at least 400 people at the event, which is open to the public and will take place in CI’s Grand Salon.
The CI Campus Reading Task Force chose the book after fielding nominations from the CI community, including students, faculty and staff. Then, the CI Reading Celebration Task Force winnows the selections down to five books and makes a choice.
CI’s co-chair for the Campus Reading Celebration Task Force, Matt Cook, says “We Are Completely Beside Ourselves” was a good choice as it deals with student research and has an interdisciplinary flavor, which will prompt discussion from a variety of viewpoints.
Cook, who is also Head of Unique Collections and Scholarly Communication for the John Spoor Broome Library, said books are chosen based on several criteria, including the accessibility of the author.
“It’s great to put somebody who makes their living as a writer in front of students,” Cook said. “Many people have never seen a writer in person, or know that you can make your living as a writer.”
Cook believes the Campus Reading Celebration has remained popular through the years because “It’s one of the few shared intellectual activities that cuts across disciplines and is open to the campus,” he said.
Admission for CI students, faculty and staff is free; community college and high school students with ID are $5; community members are $10 per person.
For additional information visit: http://www.csuci.edu/crc/.
Complimentary event parking is limited and only available in the designated parking lot. Once on campus, follow the directional signage to event parking then follow the walking signage to the event location. Free parking is available at the Camarillo Metrolink Station/Lewis Road parking lot with bus service to and from the campus. In order to waive bus fares, riders should present their event registration confirmation when boarding the CI Vista bus, otherwise the cash-only bus fare is $1.25 each way. Buses arrive and depart from the Camarillo Metrolink Station every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday. For exact times, check the schedule at: www.goventura.org.
# # #
About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CI's Social Media.