The Reading-in-Common program, designed to give new students a taste of college academic life, is now in its 11th year. This year’s book is Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford, which explores the age-old conflicts between father and son set against the beauty and sadness of what happened to Japanese Americans in the Seattle area during World War II. The author will be in the Twin Cities on Monday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. at Open Book, 1011 Washington Ave. S, Minneapolis. The author will be available immediately following the presentation to sign books, which will be available for purchase at the event. R.S.V.P. to the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@gustavus.edu or 800-487-8437. Ford will be on campus Sept. 14, for a presentation at 7 p.m. in Alumni Hall. Both events are free and open to the public.