I get very addicted to plot, and it sometimes gets in the way of me reading deeply. Micah Perks, Literature & Creative Writing I like to research and dive deeper into the world the author has created. I like to immerse myself in the text and go down a rabbit hole with the author-follow them on social media, learn about their background and travels that informed the work. Katie Keliiaa, Feminist Studies & Indigenous Studies

Because, as you’re reading, you’re in somebody’s world, but you’re also in your own world. In this way, reading deeply becomes like a spiritual experience. I focus on how what I’m reading is making me feel. And then I try to use not just my mind, but also my emotions. I need to find a quiet place where I can completely focus-where I’m not multitasking. I do this because I like to get into the page and underline something and write next to it what it makes me think about. And I read it with a pencil and a highlighter, even when I read fiction.

I physically interact with the book, so I don’t read on my iPad. As you begin the novel, we think it’s important to ask this fundamental question: how do you read deeply? We asked our participating scholars that question, and based on the diversity of their responses, it’s clear that there’s no single way to read deeply. We hope you have your copy of There There in hand and are starting to read. A Conversation with Tommy Orange: Our month-long exploration of the novel will culminate in a free, live, online event with Tommy Orange in conversation with UCSC Creative Writing Professor Micah Perks on Wednesday, March 3, 6:30 PM Pacific.Register for any or all of the salons listed at the bottom of this email to discuss the book with our panelists and dig deeper into the novel with the Deep Read Community. Deep Read salons: All Deep Readers (you!) are invited to 3 virtual salons we’re hosting in February with our participating scholars and members of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, the tribe indigenous to the Santa Cruz region.We invite you to share your reflections, ideas, reactions, and experiences with the Deep Read community and begin conversations with other Deep Readers. Community conversations: Each week, we’ll link to a web version of our email content with an active comment section.Weekly emails: Each weekly installment will draw heavily from the input and observations of our UC Santa Cruz scholars, and it will pose a set of questions for you to consider as you read.For those new to the Deep Read, here’s a quick rundown of what to expect over the next month.

There there online book