U of A Virtual Book Club
Book-lovers unite! (Online, that is.)
Introducing the U of A Virtual Book Club. Connect with an online community to read and discuss a variety of engaging books of genres ranging from novels to memoirs, social justice to personal growth, and more.
The U of A Virtual Book Club is open to all members of the University of Alberta community — alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends — located anywhere in the world. As long as you have an internet connection, a comfortable place to sit and a love of reading, you’re in!
There’s no cost to join, all you need are the books. Whether you borrow a copy from the library, download to your tablet, or buy your own print copy, the format is up to you.
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Now Reading | January to March 2025
Glorious Exploits
by Ferdia Lennon
On the island of Sicily amid the Peloponnesian War, the Syracusans have figured out what to do with the surviving Athenians who had the gall to invade their city: they’ve herded the sorry prisoners of war into a rock quarry and left them to rot. Looking for a way to pass the time, Lampo and Gelon, two unemployed potters with a soft spot for poetry and drink, head down into the quarry to feed the Athenians if, and only if, they can manage a few choice lines from their great playwright Euripides. Before long, the two mates hatch a plan to direct a full-blown production of Medea. After all, you can hate the people but love their art. But as opening night approaches, what started as a lark quickly sets in motion a series of extraordinary events, and our wayward heroes begin to realize that staging a play can be as dangerous as fighting a war, with all sorts of risks to life, limb, and friendship.
Told in a contemporary Irish voice and as riotously funny as it is deeply moving, Glorious Exploits is an unforgettable ode to the power of art in a time of war, brotherhood in a time of enmity, and human will throughout the ages.
Coming Up Next | March to May 2025
The Bird Hotel
by Joyce Maynard
Enter the magical world of La Llorona with New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard.
After a childhood filled with heartbreak, Irene, a talented artist, finds herself in a small Central American village where she checks into a beautiful but decaying lakefront hotel called La Llorona at the base of a volcano.
The Bird Hotel tells the story of this young American who, after suffering tragedy, restores and runs La Llorona. Along the way we meet a rich assortment of characters who live in the village or come to stay at the hotel. With a mystery at its center and filled with warmth, drama, romance, humor, pop culture, and a little magic realism, The Bird Hotel has all the hallmarks of a Joyce Maynard novel that have made her a a leading voice of her generation
The Bird Hotel is a big, sweeping story spanning four decades, offering lyricism as well as whimsy. While the world New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard brings to life on the page is rendered from her imagination, it’s one informed by the more than twenty years of which she has spent a significant amount of her time in a small Mayan indigenous village in Guatemala.
Check out our new webinar series, Beyond the Pages: U of A Authors!
Discover the rich literary talent within the University of Alberta community with our new webinar series, Beyond the Pages. In addition to the popular U of A Virtual Book Club, this quarterly event will spotlight a different U of A author — alumni, faculty, or current students — offering a unique opportunity to explore their latest work and dive into the heart of their artistic journey.
Whether you’re a long-time book club member or brand new to the group, this series will broaden your literary horizons and deepen your understanding of the creative process. It's a chance to engage with the minds behind the books, celebrate the diversity of thought and experience at the U of A, and connect with fellow readers who share a passion for storytelling.
On January 23, we chatted with U of A Assistant Professor, Conor Kerr, about his 2024 Giller Prize shortlisted novel, Prairie Edge.
Stay tuned for upcoming guest authors!
Click here for a list of previous book club picks!