Lake Forest College, an already ample setting for creativity, will further its creative environment this fall when students will have the opportunity to join a book club on campus.
This new book club, sponsored by Professor Carla Arnell, associate professor of English and chair of the English department, is known as the “New Novel” book club. The club will give students the opportunity to read and discuss contemporary novels outside of the classroom—something students, especially those who are avid readers, do not often get.
This new book club is being brought to campus after a student, Liza Kizhakkekuttu ‘17, inquired if Professor Arnell had read any good books lately. Professor Arnell started to think about how much fun it would be to get together with Kizhakkekuttu and other novel lovers at the College to compare notes and ideas about current fiction being read outside the classroom. With that, the “New Novel” book club was born.
All novels that will be read in the book club are contemporary fiction, written within the past 30 or so years. Keeping in mind the amount of reading and work that many students have, all novels will be very short. The idea being that the book club will not be structured like a class, but a place to discuss contemporary, recreational books.
The meetings will even take place in a way to add to ambience for readers’ benefit. Arnell hopes to meet often at Glen Rowan, “in a cozy fireside room tucked away on the second floor…” The book club is aimed toward English majors but is open to every community member, making the club the perfect niche for any bookworm.
While no meeting time is set yet, the club will launch in October and meet once a month to discuss the monthly novel. To kick off the book club, October’s novel is a short read from a Lake Forest College alum called Thistle: A Story of Ghosts, Memories and Ashes. Meetings will be informal and may occasionally include invited guest discussion leaders to join in on the fun. Books will be chosen in hopes of broadening readers’ palates, and create an environment to foster literary growth.
Professor Arnell, the group’s sponsor, described her hope for the club as “not really looking at the club as an academic endeavor. It’s just a chance for bookworms and literature lovers to better get to know each other on campus and enjoy the pleasure of talking about new books together.” The book club will allow students who are interested in reading to stretch their mind beyond the work that is required of them in the classroom and engage in reading they truly enjoy.
Even the most engaged readers struggle to continue reading for pleasure in college, despite the fact that it may boost creativity and productivity, as well as foster better sleep. Book club members will certainly be delighted to reap some of those rewards and learn something new each month.
It is safe to say that the “New Novel” book club will delight English majors and book lovers across campus, and provide an outlet for much needed recreational reading and discussion. Additionally, the book club will allow students to expand their literary horizons and have fun intellectually outside of the classroom—with the added bonus of cozy fires and intimate settings. To join the book club, contact Professor Arnell in the English department.
