Premieres Tuesday, May 22, 8 p.m.

What is America’s favorite book? That’s the question posed by a new series that premieres this month. The Great American Read is an eight-part television competition and nationwide campaign designed to spark a national conversation about reading and to discover the books that have inspired us. The series presents audiences with a list of 100 novels and asks viewers to vote on their favorites from the list and share their personal connections to the books.

The series kicks off May 22 with a two-hour special that will air at 8 p.m. During this launch event, The Great American Read will journey across America to uncover illuminating details and new reflections, sometimes from unlikely sources, about some of the titles on the top 100 book list, revealing the story behind the story from multiple perspectives. Viewers will hear from a variety of sources about what the novels on the list can tell us about our diverse nation, our shared values, our cultural identities, and common themes that tie us together.

Viewers will also be encouraged to share their personal connections to the books through a robust social media campaign where they can engage with other book lovers. Several well-known authors, celebrities, and notable figures including Margaret Atwood, Lesley Stahl, Devon Kennard, Lauren Graham, Gayle King, and others will also share their personal stories and connections to the favorite titles.

Then, after a summer filled with reading and voting, the series returns in the fall with additional episodes exploring the nominated books through themes including “Heroes,” “Villains & Monsters,” “Who Am I,” “What We Do for Love,” and “Other Worlds.” The series will conclude with an exciting finale in October when viewers countdown to “America’s Best-Loved Book.”

Visit pbs.org/greatamericanread to learn more and to cast your vote. Then visit WHRO’s Facebook page and let us know which book you chose using #GreatReadPBS.


Watch the trailer:

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