The Nottingham Reading Programme launches once again next week — with the University giving all new students the opportunity to pick up a free copy of Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley.

The books are special editions customised especially for the programme, which aims to give students something to talk about in their first weeks at university.

New students based in catered and self-catered halls will receive the books in their accommodation, and new students based in private accommodation will have the opportunity to pick up a copy from one of our libraries or from Blackwell’s bookshop in the Portland Building.

The Nottingham Reading Programme is supported by Impact: the Nottingham Campaign and was launched in 2015.

It’s designed to provide students with a conversational ice-breaker as they settle into a new place, encourage reading for pleasure and ultimately build a sense of community among new students by providing a shared experience.

Students will be encouraged to share their thoughts on the book, and see what others think, using the hashtag #UoNFreshers.

Later in the term, reading groups will be set up to bring students together to discuss Brave New World. We’ll be announcing the dates of the reading groups shortly.

We are inviting staff across the University to help support this initiative, by organising reading groups and encouraging students to get involved. If you’d like to host a reading group, you can find guidance on the Nottingham Reading Programme webpage.