ULM Summer Reading Program

The University of Louisiana at Monroe welcomes new students to campus through the Summer Reading Program, a collection of events surrounding a common theme that introduces students to the ULM learning community. New ULM students are expected to read the selected book over the summer as their first university assignment, and be prepared to discuss it in freshman English, Freshman Year Seminar (FRYS), and other classes across campus. The program's goals are to provide students with the opportunity to participate in their first common intellectual experience, to introduce them to the university's academic life, and to enhance the sense of unity among students, faculty, staff, and the community.

To Incoming Students - Summer 2008

This year's reading is The Alchemist (Harper Collins, 1998).

The book will be distributed during PREP at no cost to you. Read it during the summer, refer to the ULM web site for information about the author, discussion questions, and other resources, and bring the book with you when you return to campus in August. You will use The Alchemist in English and FRYS classes, as well as in other campus-wide events. All freshman students are also expected to attend Convocation during the first week of classes. Your first FRYS assignment will focus on your impressions of presentations during Convocation. A willingness to participate and take this assignment seriously will provide important benefits to your academic future. If you need another copy of the book, they will be available for purchase at the ULM Bookstore.

About the Book

Paulo Coelho's enchanting novel has inspired a devoted following around the world. This story, dazzling in its powerful simplicity and inspiring wisdom, is about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyptian desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. Along the way he meets a Gypsy woman, a man who calls himself king, and an alchemist, all of whom point Santiago in the direction of his quest. No one knows what the treasure is, or if Santiago will be able to surmount the obstacles along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. Lush, evocative, and deeply humane, the story of Santiago is an eternal testament to the transforming power of our dreams and the importance of listening to our hearts.