The Sussex Big Read 2025 is underway – with this year’s title, Brighton Bound: Stories of Moving To, Around and Out of the City, 1920s – 2020s, available at the Library and Student Centre. Written by Cath Senker (Assistant Professor at the University of Sussex Law School), Ben Rogaly (Professor of Geography at the University of Sussex), and Amy Clarke (Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Brighton), the book puts a spotlight on a city shaped by migration – and reveals what it means to live, work, and study in Brighton.
The Sussex Big Read – as Antony Groves, who leads the project, explained to me – aims to foster a ‘strong sense of belonging among students and staff at Sussex’ through a ‘shared reading experience’, serving as a ‘common talking point for the whole of the community’. In a poll assessing the impact of last year’s Big Read, Everything is Everything by Sussex alumnus Clive Myrie, 92% of respondents agreed that it made them feel part of the University of Sussex community. Antony explained, ‘The feedback from last year showed that having a book of broad appeal connected to Sussex was a big positive for readers, which informed our decision this year.’
Since reading through this year’s Big Read, I have found a new awareness and understanding of Brighton; learning more of Brighton’s history, as well as its successes and shortcomings as a ‘welcoming city’, has allowed me to feel more connected to the place where I myself live, work, and study. What makes this year’s title a particularly interesting read as a new or returning student at Sussex is that, as students, we make up a significant percentage of the population of Brighton and play a part in shaping the character and identity of the city. What is quite quickly clear upon reading is that this year’s Big Read opens up many opportunities for discussion and can certainly add to a strong sense of community at Sussex. To get involved, students and staff can read the book and attend any of the events – including panel discussions, author talks, and creative responses, which will run throughout the autumn term.
Another article you may enjoy: https://thebadgeronline.com/2025/11/belonging-by-umi-sinha-harrison-michael/
