We discussed Bonnie Garmus’s Lessons in Chemistry on September 21, 2023. Garmus’s 2022 best-selling novel centres on intellectually gifted chemist Elizabeth Zott and her struggles to work in scientific research as a woman in the 1950s and 1960s. And because chemistry and cooking are quite closely related, a culinary tweak […]
Not living up to the hype: “Lessons in Chemistry”
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Those who are born2read enjoy literature in all its forms but, arguably, its most beautiful form has a shiny cover, coloured end papers, and pages smelling faintly of their wooden origin. We love books. And there are exciting news for all book lovers because PADERBORN2READ—The English Book Club is starting […]
We discussed Sherman Alexie’s Indian Killer on July 13, 2023. Alexie’s 1996 “feel-good novel about interracial murder” (according to the author) intertwines the personal life-story of John Smith, born native and adopted by white parents (evidently oblivious to Pocahontas), with the murder-mystery of a serial killer dubbed the “indian killer” […]
We discussed Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer: A Memoir on June 15, 2023 as part of our Pride Month Special. Kobabe’s 2019 graphic novel shows the author’s own journey to eir non-binary gender identity and has been at the heart of the ongoing U.S. censorship debate. We talked about the text […]
We discussed Aiden Thomas’s Cemetery Boys on June 15, 2023 as part of our Pride Month Special. Thomas’s 2020 YA novel follows latinx trans boy Yadriel on his journey to acceptance—by himself, his brujx community, and Lady Death—and love—with Julian who kick-starts the plot as an accidentally summoned spirit and […]
Pride month sets the theme for this summer term’s June discussion session on June 15, 2023: Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas&Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe Thomas’s 2020 YA novel follows a latinx trans boy engaging with the Mexican death culture and features actual magic. Kobabe’s 2019 graphic novel […]
PADERBORN2READ—The English Book Club and FRAG, the student committee representing Paderborn University’s students of Romanic Studies, English and American Studies, and Germanic Studies, organized an afternoon filled with book-related activities as a contribution to Paderborn University’s Reading Week this summer term. Book lovers from different departments of Paderborn University as […]
We discussed Dana Schwartz’s Anatomy: A Love Story on May 11, 2023. Schwartz’s 2022 novel, set in 1817 Edinburgh, tells Hazel’s and Jack’s romance that enfolds over corpses and mystery: “Hazel Sinnett is a lady who wants to be a surgeon more than she wants to marry. Jack Currer is […]
Only two more weeks to go and there are exciting news to share about our very bookish afternoon: PADERBORN2READ—The English Book Club organizes the very bookish afternoon filled with book-related activities as a contribution to Paderborn University’s Reading Week and has now joined hands with FRAG, the student committee representing […]
PADERBORN2READ—The English Book Club organizes an afternoon filled with book-related activities as a contribution to Paderborn University’s Reading Week. May 30, 2023 3.00–8.00 p.m. J4.219 Book Exhibition & Book Grab (3.00–6.00 p.m.) Throughout the afternoon there is an open exhibition of members’ book favourites and other reading recommendations as well […]
Our book choices for summer term 2023 have been made and we are looking forward to surgeons and chemists, to time travel and queer identity. We kick things off on May 11, 2023 with romance, corpses, and mystery: Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz “Hazel Sinnett is a lady […]
It is time to set up a new reading schedule! Make sure to join our planning session on April 13, 2023—only those who participate in the reading selection may complain about it later. 😉 As a reminder, these are the rules and guidelines we have established as our book club’s […]
This winter term might just have sparked a new annual tradition: the Secret Santa Book Swap. For this term’s Christmas session, all eight participants selected a book that they have read and wanted somebody else to enjoy, too. The books were brought wrapped in paper, with only written teasers hinting […]
Our reading schedule for winter term 2022/2023 has been decided and it is a mix of murder and mystery, family and fantasy, and—above all—love. We kick things off on November 10, 2022 with a world-wide book phenomenon: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens The 2018 coming-of-age and murder-mystery novel […]
Our club member Kristin found this devastating poem based off a blog post by Brian Bilston: Book Group The last Thursday of every month was Book Group,when the books would gather together to discuss Graham. “It’s no fun here any more,” remarked Bleak House, glumly.“Why doesn’t he read us?” whined […]
While setting up our new book club website and closing the formerly used Facebook group in the process, we happened upon some interesting snippets of book club history. This in one we thought worth sharing. One particular discussion session had us fired up like few others: our Christmas session on […]
While setting up our new book club website and closing the formerly used Facebook group in the process, we happened upon some interesting snippets of book club history. This in one we thought worth sharing. Sometimes, (university) life happens. And book club members have trouble attending due to conflicting schedules, […]
While setting up our new book club website and closing the formerly used Facebook group in the process, we happened upon some interesting snippets of book club history. This in one we thought worth sharing. In the early book club days (Imagine this being narrated with an elderly lady’s voice!), […]