Those who are born2read are as diverse in their individual backgrounds as close-knit in their shared love for English language literature. We do not have membership applications, permissions, and rejections and there is no fixed members’ list. We believe in getting together sans bureaucracy, simply by indulging in literature, exploring it in all shapes and forms, and sharing our thoughts.
Members’ book attitudes
Every book lover has their quirks—so do we.
Do you recognize yourself in our members’ book attitudes?
We might be your people. Join us for our next book discussion!
Members’ book recommendations
Every book reader has their favourites—here are ours.
Important messages—unconvincing stories: “What I Leave Behind” & “The Sad Ghost Club”
We discussed Alison McGhee’s What I Leave Behind and Lize Meddings’s The Sad Ghost Club I on March 14, 2024. McGhee’s 2019 YA novel tells the story of sixteen-year-old Will, who tries to cope with the misery of his father’s suicide by doing some good in the world and to…
We discussed Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House on February 8, 2024. Set on the prestigious Yale campus, this 2019 fantasy novel introduces us to an unlikely Yale freshman: Galaxy “Alex” Stern was raised by a hippie mother, dropped out of school, worked shady odd jobs, and solely survived an unsolved multiple…
A meta-novel on writing, publishing, and racism: “Yellowface”
We discussed Rebecca F. Kuang’s Yellowface on January 11, 2024. This 2023 novel centers around authors June Hayward and Athena Liu. While June struggles to get her writing career going, Athena becomes a literary success story. When Athena dies in a freak accident, June acts on impulse: she steals not…
collaborators’ mission statements
Even bookish people need some friends—we love collaborating.
Linnemann—Bücher und mehr
… is a family-run bookshop in the Südring shopping centre directly next to Paderborn University’s campus, where book club sessions take place. Linnemann has a diverse assortment including a section of English books and a shelf with a PADERBORN2READ selection display, established in October 2023. Each term’s books of choice are in stock and can be shopped as a bundle.
FRAG—Fachschaftsrat für Romanistik, Anglistik und Germanistik
… is the student committee representing Paderborn University’s students of Romanic Studies, English and American Studies, and Germanic Studies. PADERBORN2READ and FRAG are collaborating to organize book events, for example during Paderborn University’s annual reading week.
Book of the Month
… is a project by Paderborn University’s Department of English and American Studies, started in April 2017. The reading recommendations are written by staff and students and range from current bestsellers over classic literature to non-fiction books. PADERBORN2READ has individual members contributing reading recommendations and shares each term’s book club favourite.