Following the success of this year’s ACU Book of the Year, we are delighted to announce this year’s shortlist.
The judging panel is Emeritus Professor Margot Hillel OAM, Professor Dermot Nestor and Fides Datu Lawton.
The book will address important cultural and social themes that are relevant for students and the wider world: the theme for this year is 'Generosity'.
The Book of the Year initiative would bring to the fore the value of reading fiction as a means to develop empathy, engage with the world and forge community. Emeritus Professor Hillel said "reading fiction gives you an idea of the way other people think. It broadens your horizons and makes you aware of the individual worth of every person, which is very much aligned with ACU’s mission." This is perhaps particularly important in this Covid-19 year when, more than ever, we need to be generous and empathetic.
The Book of the Year 'winner' will be announced on 19 September and the University will then approach the publisher and arrange for students to receive copies of the book.
The shortlist will be displayed in all campus libraries.
Happy reading!
This year’s shortlist is:
Bear Town by Fredrick Backman
The Bookshop of the Broken-Hearted by Robert Hillman
Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves by Rachel Malik
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
The Storied Life of A.K. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
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