December 15, 2022

Winter Reading and Book Clubs

Huskies, did you know– One of the biggest benefits of leisure reading is reduced academic stress?  When you choose to read books you enjoy, you’ll probably be more motivated to take regular breaks from your academic work, helping you focus and also avoid burnout. Over winter break, we hope you’ll find time to catch up on a good read. Whether you are looking for a book recommendation, or opportunities to meet others and share your ideas on some thought-provoking books, UW Libraries has you covered!  Don’t stress about reading the whole book on a deadline…these  “low stress” book clubs are designed to join anytime throughout the year.  Check it out… you just might find a new friend– and your next favorite book!

Book Recommendations

• Good Reads Online Resources These tools will help you pick a book before you walk through the doors. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, try a list of prize-winning books for a guaranteed great read.
• Odegaard Library’s Good Reads Collection: Good Reads is a browsing collection of fiction and nonfiction books that appeal to students looking for something entertaining in their downtime.  These books have all been published within the last five years. Check out the Good Reads collection located behind the Odegaard  Information Desk on the second floor. Our student assistants are happy to help you browse the catalog if the book you wanted isn’t on the shelf!
• Recommendations from UW Students  
• International Good Reads

Book Clubs + Social Justice Connections

REAL Lit:

Real Lit is an online, peer-based book club led by UW Tacoma Library, in collaboration with the Center for Equity and Inclusion. In the context of the chosen book, students, staff, and community participants share their perspectives and collective experiences.  This year’s selected book is the award-winning  Bethany C Morrow’s A Song Below Water!  Real Lit is open to anyone in the UW community. Click here to learn more.

Community Reads:

Hosted by the UW Bothell/Cascadia College Library, this annual program aims to build community through reading and group reflection. Each quarter, we will be focusing on a different short story from the selected text, and the unique ways that these authors are dreaming the world.   For the 2022-2023 academic year, Community Reads will be focusing on the anthology Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements, with an overarching theme of visionary fiction. Walidah Imarisha defines visionary fiction as “science fiction that has relevance toward building new, freer worlds . . . Visionary fiction encompasses all of the fantastic, with the arc always bending towards justice.

Community Reads events include large- and small-group discussions and activities related both to the material itself as well as to larger issues. This program is open to everyone.  Winter 2023 meetings will be posted soon. Learn more here and follow us on social media to find out when the winter quarter programming is posted!