Announcement: Artsci Book Club

Building on the successes of the Common Reading Program, the new Artsci Book Club seeks to provide an opportunity for students, alumni, faculty, and staff to connect and come together throughout the year to discuss a selected book. After receiving 90 wide-ranging recommendations from alumni and students, we are excited to announce that the book selected for the Winter 2025 Artsci Book Club is:

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

In a Los Angeles Times article, Ocean Vuong spoke about the story behind ‘On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous’ and described it as a book that “delves into a family history with origins in Vietnam and expands to Hartford, Conn., exploring a complicated, loving relationship between a mother and her son, as well as themes of race, war, class, sexuality and masculinity.” Link to the full story.

All Arts & Science students, alumni, faculty, and staff are invited to read the book and participate in two upcoming meetings at which we’ll connect and discuss it.

Artsci Book Club Meeting #1
The first meeting will discuss the first half of the book (up to and including page 127).
Date & Time: Thursday 6 March from 7pm-8pm
Location: On campus at McMaster University, Kenneth Taylor Hall (KTH) room 104 or virtually on zoom
Click here to register for the first meeting.

Artsci Book Club Meeting #2
The second book club meeting will be held in April to discuss the book in its entirety, focusing on the latter half.

Here is a short list of ways to access On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong:

• McMaster University Libraries
• Hamilton Public Library
• Local independent bookstores: King W. Books (Westdale) & Epic Books (Locke Street)
• Audiobook on Spotify and Audible

Register for the first book club meeting here

Questions?
Contact Jen Clarke, Arts & Science Recruitment, Outreach & Alumni Coordinator at clarkj91@mcmaster.ca.