Community Reads
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
In tandem with its production of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, UND Theatre is proud to lead a campus-and-community reading experience centered on Ann Patchett’s novel Tom Lake, a novel about a woman whose life is impacted and parallels the main character in Our Town.
Both works explore memory, love, family, and the quiet beauty of every day life—inviting audiences to pause and reflect on the moments that shape us.
April 4, Library Staff
10:30 a.m., Grand Forks Public Library
April 21, Dr. Tami Carmichael & Merie Kirby
Community Reads Initiative
The Community Reads initiative brings students, faculty, and community members together through shared reading and conversation. Through guided discussions, special events, and connections to the themes of Our Town, participants will explore how storytelling—on the page and on the stage—helps us understand time, place, and the lives we’ve lived.
By pairing Tom Lake with Our Town, UND Theatre creates space for meaningful dialogue across generations, emphasizing the power of reflection, nostalgia, and human connection. All are welcome to read along, attend events, and join the conversation.
Books are available at the Chester Fritz Library and the Grand Forks Public Library.