Written by Harold Henkel, Assistant Librarian
Dear Friends & Readers,
The Big Read is here! Our festival offers a program of entertaining and stimulating events that will introduce participants to the richness of Russian culture, and in particular, to the genius of Leo Tolstoy by focusing on his late novella The Death of Ivan Ilyich. Please stop by the Library for your free copy or contact Harold Henkel at harohen@regent.edu. The Regent University Library invites all interested readers throughout Hampton Roads to take part in our Big Read festival and discover the pleasure of reading great literature with your friends.
CONTESTS
- Essay & Video Contests
The Library is sponsoring video and essay contests, with separate categories for contestants under and over 18. Top prize for each category is $150. The deadline for all entries is midnight, January 31, 2009. For details, click here for essay and here for video contest rules.-
UPCOMING EVENTS
- War, Love, Repentance: A Festival of Russian Cinema
Dates: January 16, 23, 30
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Library Auditorium
Regent film faculty Prof. Andrew Quicke and Dr. Dennis Bounds will host a festival of Russian cinema on three Friday evenings. All showings are free and open to the public.- January 16: Dr. Dennis Bounds will host Prisoner of the Mountains (1996)-Sergei Bodrov’s adaptation of Tolstoy’s short story, “A Prisoner of the Caucasus.”
- January 23: Prof. Andrew Quicke will host Anna Karenina (1967)-Alexander Zarkhi’s classic film of Tolstoy’s masterpiece.
- January 30: Prof. Andrew Quicke will host Ostrov (2006)-Pavel Lungin’s powerful film of guilt, repentance, and holiness set in a Russian monastery in the far north.
- Faculty Lunch Symposium: Ivan Ilyich’s Problems
Date: January 27
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Library Atrium
A panel of Regent University faculty will discuss The Death of Ivan Ilyich from the perspective of their disciplines: Dr. Rosemarie Hughes, School of Psychology and Counseling; Dr. Michael Palmer, School of Divinity; Prof. David Wagner, School of Law. Also joining the panel will be Dr. Maria Grise, Department of Russian, Old Dominion University and Fr. James Pavlow, pastor of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Virginia Beach. Lunch will be served. The event is free and open to the public. R.S.V.P. Harold Henkel (harohen@regent.edu) by January 23.- Book Discussion in Russian
Date: February 5
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Library 1st Floor Reading Area
The Library will host a discussion in Russian of The Death of Ivan Ilyich for native Russian speakers, speakers of Russian as a second language, and students of Russian. For more information, contact Harold Henkel at harohen@regent.edu or 757-352-4198.- A Taste of Russia
Date: February 10
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Regent Ordinary
Chef Dan Murphy will present two classics of the Russian kitchen, Ukrainian Borsch and Salmon Kulebyaka. The event is open to the public.- Give War and Peace a Chance: How Tolstoy Can Change Your Life
Date: February 10
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Robertson Hall, Moot Courtroom
Dr. Andrew Kaufman, scholar, author, actor, lecturer at the University of Virginia, and Russian literature expert for Oprah’s Book Club will discuss how Tolstoy’s works confront the essential questions of life: What does it mean to lead a good life? What is necessary for true happiness? Is suffering beneficial? How does one truly live by the teachings in the Gospels? Dr. Kaufman (aka Professor Andy) will explain how Tolstoy’s books can inspire, challenge and change you and why the works of a 19th century Russian aristocrat are the best self-help books on the market. A reception will follow in the Robertson Hall Lobby.-
PAST EVENTS with PHOTOS
- Big Read Kick-Off
On January 9, our festival of Tolstoy and Russian culture kicked off in the Library with remarks from Dean Sara Baron, Dr. Carlos Campo, librarian Harold Henkel, and a dramatic reading by the Library’s systems manager and resident thespian, Mark Zillges.- Library Book Club Discussion
On January 13, the Library Book Club hosted its best-attended meeting to date with Russian refreshments and lively discussion.Don’t seek God in temples. He is close to you. He is within you. Only you should surrender to Him and you will rise above happiness and unhappiness.
Leo Tolstoy