2008 Woodie Awards
Women's studies professor offers diverse book selections
Crystal Joy White
Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
Students and members of the Greeley community who are craving a good book to read are heading to the Women's Studies Office on Tuesdays.
Rita Jones, program coordinator of the Women's Studies department, leads a book discussion once a month. This month's book was a collection of short stories called the "Interpreter Of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri, who is an Indian Author.
" I started it because the students always talk about all the contemporary works that they are reading and I decided I need to know more about them," said Jones of the discusion.
Lahiri, who was born in London and raised in Rhode Island, currently resides in New York. She will be visiting the University of Northern Colorado on Feb. 5. One story in her book is called "This Blessed House" and is about the lives of a couple which just moved to a new house and is finding Christian paraphernalia hidden throughout the house. As the book goes on, the husband gets frustrated and the wife finds a hobby in seeking out the hidden objects and begins making a shrine type collection of the objects.
"What is great about our group is that there are no restrictions, everyone is welcome and you don't have to read the entire work to participate in the discussion," Jones said.
Another short story in the book that was discussed this month is a story called "Sexy" and it follows the lives of two families that are affected by an affair. The lead character, Miranda, meets a man at a cosmetic counter as he his buying his wife a gift. He initiates the affair and the story goes on to show what the affair does to the man's son.
"This group gives me an impression of culture outside the U.S.," said anthropology graduate student, Chelsea Milson.
The book is made up of short stories that are mostly set in the United States, however. three are set in India. Other topics that were discussed were the caste system in India and how national identities shift within a nation.
"The focus on the international views is nice," history graduate student, Stephanie Kostick said.
Next month's book is "The Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See. It takes place in 19th century China when young girls would bind their feet and spent most of their lives in seclusion. The book reveals a community of women that broke the traditional norms of being illiterate, uncreative and without emotion while developing a type of women's writing that is before its time.
Students interested in expanding their horizons, or just their personal book collection should visit the Women's Studies Department in the lower level of Candelaria to find out more about the monthly book discussions.
Rita Jones, program coordinator of the Women's Studies department, leads a book discussion once a month. This month's book was a collection of short stories called the "Interpreter Of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri, who is an Indian Author.
" I started it because the students always talk about all the contemporary works that they are reading and I decided I need to know more about them," said Jones of the discusion.
Lahiri, who was born in London and raised in Rhode Island, currently resides in New York. She will be visiting the University of Northern Colorado on Feb. 5. One story in her book is called "This Blessed House" and is about the lives of a couple which just moved to a new house and is finding Christian paraphernalia hidden throughout the house. As the book goes on, the husband gets frustrated and the wife finds a hobby in seeking out the hidden objects and begins making a shrine type collection of the objects.
"What is great about our group is that there are no restrictions, everyone is welcome and you don't have to read the entire work to participate in the discussion," Jones said.
Another short story in the book that was discussed this month is a story called "Sexy" and it follows the lives of two families that are affected by an affair. The lead character, Miranda, meets a man at a cosmetic counter as he his buying his wife a gift. He initiates the affair and the story goes on to show what the affair does to the man's son.
"This group gives me an impression of culture outside the U.S.," said anthropology graduate student, Chelsea Milson.
The book is made up of short stories that are mostly set in the United States, however. three are set in India. Other topics that were discussed were the caste system in India and how national identities shift within a nation.
"The focus on the international views is nice," history graduate student, Stephanie Kostick said.
Next month's book is "The Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See. It takes place in 19th century China when young girls would bind their feet and spent most of their lives in seclusion. The book reveals a community of women that broke the traditional norms of being illiterate, uncreative and without emotion while developing a type of women's writing that is before its time.
Students interested in expanding their horizons, or just their personal book collection should visit the Women's Studies Department in the lower level of Candelaria to find out more about the monthly book discussions.
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