Open Throat by Henry Hoke is the 2026-27 Community Book Program selection!
The Community Book Program promotes the mission of the College by empowering our students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and other members of the broader ºù«Ӱҵ community to experience the joy of reading and learning together.
Open Throat by Henry Hoke will be a required reading for incoming first-year students. First-year students can request a free e-book copy using the link below.
The novel has been selected as this year’s Community Book. Inspired by the story of P-22, the famous mountain lion who crossed multiple freeways to take up residence in Los Angeles’s Griffith Park, the book imagines the inner monologue of a big cat living in the middle of a vast modern metropolis.
Nominated by Occidental’s student book club, Open Throat explores themes of displacement, homelessness, and habitat loss, all through a darkly humorous and unconventional lens. Students will have the opportunity to attend a presentation by author Henry Hoke during the fall semester. Additional events related to the book will occur throughout the academic year.
Henry Hoke is the author of five books, most recently Open Throat, finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award and the James Tait Black Prize for Fiction. He directs the performance series and edits humor at . The First Girl in Hell, a western, is coming in 2027 from FSG and Granta.
Through thoughtful selection of book titles and innovative and inspiring programs, the Community Book Program (CBP) provides an intellectually engaging and rewarding experience for the entire ºù«Ӱҵ community. The CBP furthers current students’ academic success and excellence, while supporting lifelong learning for all of our community participants. To that end, we seek to: