New Hampshire’s BIG READ invites us to explore how we share stories, understand our world, and envision a better future for New Hampshire. Through free local book discussions, lectures, poetry, and programs that blend the humanities, arts, and science, generations of Granite Staters will gather to read, think, and understand our shared story of New Hampshire.

About Our Big Read

New Hampshire Humanities (NHH) is one of 62 organizations nationwide selected to receive a 2023-2024 National Endowment for the Arts Big Read grant of $20,000.

An initiative of the NEA, in partnership with Arts Midwest, a Big Read broadens understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the power of a shared reading experience. In partnership with the Center for the Book at the NH State Library, NH State Council for the Arts, New Hampshire Public Radio, NH Department of Corrections-Family Connections Center, 50 local libraries and community organizations, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Gibson’s Bookstore, and scholars, NHH’s Big Read will bring more than 5,000 Granite Staters together to discuss a selected book, The Bear by New Hampshire author Andrew Krivak.

The Big Read will take place from September through November 2023 and will feature book discussions, public programs, and a public Q&A with Andrew Krivak, all free and open to the public.  Events will take place in all ten counties of the state.

With financial support from NHH, 50 public libraries will partner with a community organization to host both a community event and discussion of The Bear. NHH will provide all participants with a complimentary copy of the book, purchased through Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord.

In addition to supporting these local events, NHH will host four public programs and a culminating event. The Big Read will kick off with a public event on September 6 at Great North Aleworks in Manchester and feature a dramatic reading from the novel. On September 8, NHH will host Dr. Brent Ryan Bellamy for a virtual discussion exploring what a recent slate of postapocalyptic books might reveal about our contemporary anxieties. On September 23, NHH will partner with the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center for a planetarium show in which participants will experience how the daughter used the stars to track the passage of time in the novel. On November 3, poet Midge Goldberg will examine how poets have told stories about the night sky throughout human history.

Working with the NH Department of Corrections through our Connections program, NHH will use The Bear to encourage incarcerated parents to tell their own stories and reflect on the role parents hold in sharing knowledge of the past with their children.

The Big Read will culminate with public discussion and book signing with author Andrew Krivak at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage in Concord on October 14.

About The Bear

In an Edenic future, a girl and her father live close to the land in the shadow of a lone mountain. They possess a few remnants of civilization: some books, a pane of glass, a set of flint and steel, a comb. The father teaches the girl how to fish and hunt, the secrets of the seasons and the stars. He is preparing her for an adulthood in harmony with nature, for they are the last of humankind. But when the girl finds herself alone in an unknown landscape, it is a bear that will lead her back home through a vast wilderness that offers the greatest lessons of all, if she can only learn to listen.  

A cautionary tale of human fragility, of love and loss, The Bear is a stunning tribute to the beauty of nature’s dominion and explores powerful themes about the importance of intergenerational storytelling, our complicated relationship with the environment, and how to prepare for an unknown future. 

“But we don't get to choose when we leave here to sleep on the mountain. We all have to sleep on the mountain one day. Even the bear. Even when we struggle with all our will not to.”

Andrew Krivak, The Bear

Listen to an interview with Andrew Krivak on the National Endowment for the Arts Podcast for the Big Read.

 

About Andrew Krivak


Andrew Krivak is the author of The Bear, a Mountain Book Competition winner, Massachusetts Book Award winner, and NEA Big Read selection; and the Dardan Trilogy, which includes The Sojourn, a National Book Award finalist and winner of both the Chautauqua Prize and Dayton Literary Peace Prize; The Signal Flame, a Chautauqua Prize finalist; and Like the Appearance of Horses. He is also the author of the poetry collection Ghosts of the Monadnock Wolves and the memoir A Long Retreat: In Search of a Religious Life, as well as the editor of The Letters of William Carlos Williams to Edgar Irving Williams, 1902–1912, which received the Louis L. Martz Prize. Krivak lives with his wife and three children in Somerville, Massachusetts, and Jaffrey, New Hampshire, in the shadow of Mount Monadnock, which inspired much of the landscape in The Bear.

 

Join a Big Read Event

Big Read Featured Events

Humanities@Home: Finding Your Way: The Night Sky
Virtual
Friday, November 3, 2023
Concord, NH
Humanities@Home: Finding Your Way: The Night Sky

Big Read Partner Events

Night Sky with Doug Arion
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Lincoln, NH
Night Sky with Doug Arion
Big Read Art Project for The Bear
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Hudson, NH
Big Read Art Project for The Bear
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Londonderry, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Moultonborough, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Londonderry, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Meredith, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Traveling Planetarium
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Gilford, NH
Traveling Planetarium
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Rindge, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
What's Up in Tonight's Sky?
Thursday, September 28, 2023
New Boston, NH
What's Up in Tonight's Sky?
Family Nature and History Hike
Saturday, September 30, 2023
Richmond, NH
Family Nature and History Hike
Community Nature Hike
Saturday, September 30, 2023
Temple, NH
Community Nature Hike
Mt. Kearsage Indian Museum Travel Program
Saturday, September 30, 2023
Rindge, NH
Mt. Kearsage Indian Museum Travel Program
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Sunday, October 1, 2023
Lancaster, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Black Bear Happenings in NH
Monday, October 2, 2023
Newton, NH
Black Bear Happenings in NH
Sky Watch
Monday, October 2, 2023
Dover, NH
Sky Watch
Big Read Paint Night With Lauren
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Barrington, NH
Big Read Paint Night With Lauren
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Hampstead, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Virtual
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Walpole, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Virtual
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Sanbornton, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Eyes on Owls
Thursday, October 5, 2023
Mason, NH
Eyes on Owls
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Thursday, October 5, 2023
Wilton, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Thursday, October 5, 2023
Plaistow, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Thursday, October 5, 2023
Colebrook, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Nature Connect - Community Outdoor Adventures
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Northfield, NH
Nature Connect - Community Outdoor Adventures
Big Read Art Project for The Bear
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Hudson, NH
Big Read Art Project for The Bear
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Barrington, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Virtual
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Jaffrey, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
What’s Up in Tonight’s Sky and Sky Watch
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Manchester, NH
What’s Up in Tonight’s Sky and Sky Watch
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Plaistow, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Time with Bear: How Black Bears Live
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Peterborough, NH
Time with Bear: How Black Bears Live
How to Navigate the Night Sky
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Sanbornton, NH
How to Navigate the Night Sky
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Virtual
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Derry, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
History of the Abenaki
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Bethlehem, NH
History of the Abenaki
Bears of North America
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Walpole, NH
Bears of North America
October Trek - Bear's Den to Porcupine Falls
Sunday, October 15, 2023
Gilsum, NH
October Trek - Bear's Den to Porcupine Falls
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Sunday, October 15, 2023
Henniker, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Monday, October 16, 2023
Bedford, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
The Night Sky with the Harris Center
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Jaffrey, NH
The Night Sky with the Harris Center
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Meriden, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Henniker, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Lincoln, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
If the Earth Told Stories
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Tamworth, NH
If the Earth Told Stories
Bears in the North Country
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Lancaster, NH
Bears in the North Country
Evening Skywatch
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Laconia, NH
Evening Skywatch
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Francestown, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Friday Flicks
Friday, October 20, 2023
Plaistow, NH
Friday Flicks
Big Read Art Project for The Bear
Friday, October 20, 2023
Hudson, NH
Big Read Art Project for The Bear
Trail Hike: Survival Skills from The Bear
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Barrington, NH
Trail Hike: Survival Skills from The Bear
NH Wildlife presented by NH Audubon
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Bedford, NH
NH Wildlife presented by NH Audubon
NH Wildlife presented by NH Audubon
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Bedford, NH
NH Wildlife presented by NH Audubon
The Big Read: The Bear Book Discussion and Hike
Sunday, October 22, 2023
Bedford, NH
The Big Read: The Bear Book Discussion and Hike
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Virtual
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Peterborough, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Virtual
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Hooksett, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Virtual
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Tamworth, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Virtual
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Tamworth, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Virtual
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Madison, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Black Bear Happenings in NH
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Litchfield, NH
Black Bear Happenings in NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Virtual
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Newton, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Deerfield, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Virtual
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Manchester, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Experiencing the Wild
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Conway, NH
Experiencing the Wild
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Bedford, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Concord, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Virtual
Friday, October 27, 2023
Peterborough, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Craft Night: Watercolor Class
Friday, October 27, 2023
New Boston, NH
Craft Night: Watercolor Class
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Litchfield, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Northwood, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
The Social Behavior of Black Bears
Thursday, November 2, 2023
New Boston, NH
The Social Behavior of Black Bears
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Danville, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Sky Watch
Monday, November 6, 2023
Bedford, NH
Sky Watch
Night Sky Walk
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Deerfield, NH
Night Sky Walk
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
New London, NH
Big Read Book Discussion - The Bear
A Walk in the Woods
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Danville, NH
A Walk in the Woods
Full Moon Gathering
Monday, November 27, 2023
Danville, NH
Full Moon Gathering
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Gilsum, NH
Perspectives Book Group - The Bear

Load More Events

Watch for our upcoming announcements of Big Read events hosted by New Hampshire Humanities and our partners. Not on our email list? To receive updates about upcoming events, sign up here!

Big Read Partners

Thank you to our Big Read Lead Partners and Participating Libraries:

Lead Partners

  • Center for the Book at the NH State Library
  • New Hampshire State Council for the Arts
  • New Hampshire Public Radio
  • NH Department of Corrections- Family Connections Center
  • Gibson’s Bookstore
  • McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center


Participating Libraries

  • Aaron Cutler Memorial Library
  • Barrington Public Library
  • Bartlett Public Library
  • Bedford Public Library
  • Bethlehem Public Library
  • Chesley Memorial Library
  • Colby Memorial Library
  • Colebrook Public Library
  • Concord Hospital Medical Library
  • Conway Public Library
  • Cook Memorial Library
  • Dover Public Library
  • Freedom Public Library
  • Gale Library
  • George H. and Ella M. Rodgers Memorial Library
  • George H. Bixby Memorial Library
  • Gilford Public Library
  • Gilsum Public Library
  • Hall Memorial Library
  • Hampstead Public Library
  • Hooksett Library
  • Ingalls Memorial Library
  • Jackson Public Library
  • Jaffrey Public Library
  • Laconia Public Library
  • Leach Library
  • Lincoln Public Library
  • Manchester City Library
  • Mansfield Public Library
  • Mason Public Library
  • Meredith Public Library
  • Moultonborough Public Library
  • New England College Library (Henniker)
  • New England College Library (Manchester)
  • Peterborough Town Library
  • Philbrick-James Library
  • Plainfield Libraries- Meriden and Philip Read Memorial
  • Plaistow Public Library
  • Richmond Public Library
  • Samuel H. Wentworth Library
  • Sanbornton Public Library
  • The Derry Public Library
  • Tracy Memorial Library
  • Walpole Town Library
  • Weeks Memorial Library
  • Whipple Free Library
  • Wilton Public and Gregg Free

 

NEA Big Read is a program of National Endowment for the Arts in Partnership with Arts Midwest.