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Past Book Discussions

2010 - 2011

Register here for the 2011/2012 book discussions.

  • Zeitoun by Dave Eggers.
    Discussion led by Bill Hamilton, Liberal Studies (October 4, 2010)
  • My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor. Discussion led by Gwen Hunnicutt, Sociology Department (November 1, 2010)
  • Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope. Discussion led by Hephzibah Roskelly, English Department (December 6, 2010)
  • The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson. Discussion led by Janne Cannon, Microbiology and Immunology (UNC Chapel Hill) and Rob Cannon, Biology (January 24, 2011)
  • Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C.S. Lewis. Discussion led by Christopher Hodgkins, English Department ( February 28, 2011)
  • Children of Dust by Ali Eteraz. Discussion led by Jeff Jones, History Department (March 28, 2011)

2009 - 2010

  • The Innocent Man by John Grisham. Discussion Led by Saundra Wetervelt, Sociology (September 21, 2009)
  • Stoner by John Williams. Discussion led by Michael Parker, English (October 5, 2009)
  • The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton. Discussion led by Patrick Lee Lucas, Interior Architecture ( November 9, 2009)
  • This One and Magic Life by Anne Carroll George. Discussion led by Bill Carroll, School of Music (January 25, 2010)
  • Abraham Lincoln by James McPherson. Discussion led by Mark Elliott, History (February 22, 2010)
  • Olive Kittredge by Elizabeth Strout. Discussion led by Hepsie Roskelly, English (March 22, 2011)

2008-2009 Theme: Sustainability

  • A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
    Discussion led by Dr. Greg Grieve, Religious Studies Dept. (September 29, 2008)
  • The Crystal World by J.G. Ballard
    Discussion led by Fred Chappell, Professor Emeritus of English (October 27, 2008)
  • Essays by Wendell Berry & Thomas Berry
    Discussion led by Ann Berry Somers, Biology Dept. (November 24, 2008)
  • Native Hill by Wendell Berry
    Print copy in The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays of Wendell Berry, edited by Norman Wirzba.
  • The Meadow Across the Creek by Thomas Berry
    Electronic copy available here. Print copy in The Great Work: Our Way into the Future, by Thomas Berry. NY: Crown Publishing Group, 2000.
  • Animal, Vegetable and Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver
    Discussion led by Dr. Anne-Marie Scott, Nutrition Dept. (January 26, 2009)
  • The Maytrees by Annie Dillard
    Discussion led by Dr. Hepsie Roskelly, English Dept. (February 23, 2009)

2007-2008 Theme: Journeys

  • After This by Alice McDermott (October 25, 2007)
  • Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser (January 28, 2008)
  • The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen (February 25, 2008)
  • Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain (March 31, 2008)
  • Righteous Warrior: Jesse Helms and the Rise of Modern Conservatism by former professor Bill Link
    With presentation by Bill Link(February 27, 2008)

2006-2007 Theme: Books Worth a Second Look

  • In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
    Discussion led by Dr. Saundra D. Westervelt, Associate Professor of Sociology (September 25, 2006)
  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
    Discussion led by Dr. Hephzibah Roskelly, Professor of English (October 30, 2006)
  • Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
    Discussion led by Dr. Parke Rublee, Professor of Biology (November 27, 2006)
  • Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz
    Discussion led by Dr. Peter Carmichael, Associate Professor of History (January 29, 2007)
  • Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
    Discussion led by Dr. Colleen Kriger, Associate Professor of History (March 26, 2007)

2005-2006 Theme: Award Winners

  • Doubt by John Patrick Shanley
    Discussion led by Mr. Jim Wren, Professor of Theater (September 26, 2005)
  • All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren
    Discussion led by Mr. Stuart Dischell, Associate Professor of English (October 24, 2005)
  • The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
    Discussion led by Dr. Hephzibah Roskelly, Professor of English (November 21, 2005)
  • Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy by Carlos Eire
    Discussion led by Dr. Mark Smith-Soto, Professor of Spanish (January 23, 2006)
  • Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
    Discussion led by Dr. Henry Levinson, Professor of Religious Studies (March 27, 2006)

2004-2005 Theme: The World We Live In

2003-2004 Theme: Different Lives

  • A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott
    Led by Hepsie Roskelly, Professor of English (September 15, 2003)
  • Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare.
    Led by Russ McDonald, Professor of English (October 20, 2003)
  • Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier.
    Led by Allen Trelease, Emeritus Professor of History (November 24, 2003)
  • Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs.
    Led by Loren Schweninger, Professor of History (February 2, 2004 [rescheduled from January 26])
  • William Wilson by E.A. Poe
    Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by R.L.Stevenson.
    Led by William Finley, Special Collections Librarian (March 15, 2004 [rescheduled from February 16])
  • Catch Me If You Can by Stan Redding and Frank Abagnale
    Led by Michael Frierson, Associate Professor of Broadcasting and Cinema (April 19, 2004)

2002-2003 Theme: American Journeys

  • Towns Without Rivers by Michael Parker
    Discussion led by Friends of the UNCG Libraries Board of Directors members Ann Russ and Beth Sheffield September 23, 2002)
  • Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West by Stephen E. Ambrose
    Discussion led by Friends of the UNCG Libraries Board of Directors members Ann Russ and Beth Sheffield and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Robert Gatten, who is a nationally recognized expert on Lewis and Clark, a founding director of the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council and Past President of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation (November 18, 2002)
  • Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck
    Discussion led by Dr. Hephzibah Roskelly, Professor of English and Friends of the UNCG Libraries Board of Directors members Ann Russ and Beth Sheffield (January 27, 2003)
  • The Last Girls by Lee Smith
    Discussion led by Lee Zacharias, Associate Professor of English and Friends of the UNCG Libraries Board of Directors members Ann Russ and Beth Sheffield (April 21, 2003 [rescheduled from March 17, 2003])

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