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Maia L. Butler's avatar

I have taught a single author course on Edwidge Danticat at my university and have led several public book circles on bell hooks, Rivers Solomon (currently) and will be leading a book circle on Octavia Butler in the fall and on Morrison’s list of novels next year! I love a good deep dive!

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Ravynn K. Stringfield's avatar

I’m sure the Danticat course was a hit! She definitely would be on the list of courses I would take.

How do you organize your book circles?

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Maia L. Butler's avatar

I have led some on campus, some through public orgs and have started offering them thru this platform. I organize the circle around an author or a theme, and provide a packet of reading resources for each text for deeper dives. Usually we have an hour and a half to talk about each text.

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Kristin Corry's avatar

I just finished reading Bernice McFadden's first two novels (Sugar and This Bitter Earth) after I met her at a talk for First Born Daughters. I was in AWE of how many people in the audience brought her whole catalog to be signed. I work a lot of book signings, and I've never seen that.

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Ravynn K. Stringfield's avatar

Oooh that’s amazing! I hope I get to be that level someday day 😭 and that is also an author I would love to see get a single author course! I would take it!

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Kimberly Hirsh's avatar

Oh my goodness if you were to become an independent teacher teaching classes as an institution of one (like Lori Morimoto did with Fan Studies for Fans), I would sign up lickety split for a class on Ms. Bev.

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Ravynn K. Stringfield's avatar

I’m low key considering just independently doing a class like that on my own but I unfortunately don’t think it would Jenkins. I think I’d go with someone I’ve already read/reread most of their catalogue…

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Kimberly Hirsh's avatar

That makes sense. Well, if the world offered up a Ms. Bev read along or similar, I would join. She's on my personal list of authors whose backlist I want to deep dive.

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Ravynn K. Stringfield's avatar

I would join you!!

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Saraciea J. Fennell's avatar

I love this so much! Would definitely want to be enrolled to these classes! Jesmyn Ward would be on my list, Octavia Butler, James Baldwin, bell hooks and so many countless others!

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Ravynn K. Stringfield's avatar

Jesmyn Ward 3,000% needs a class! I would also love any of the others too! A dope list for sure

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Demetrius Murphy's avatar

I would love to see a course on Imani Perry.

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Agustin Paz's avatar

So much inspiration! Thank you for sharing your love letter.

Pauli Murray & Howard Thurman would be high in my list of author's deserving a full course.

Thank you also to commenters for sharing their (love) voices for their inspirations!

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