If you go
› What: Take Five Community Book Club kickoff› Where: UTC University Center, Chattanooga Room, 642 E. Fifth St.› When: 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22› Admission: Free, purchase book at own expense› For more information: aaron-shaheen@utc.eduScheduleJan. 22: Dr. Clif Cleaveland, “News of the World” by Paulette JilesFeb. 5: Hugh Prevost, “The Professor and the Madman” by Simon WinchesterFeb. 26: Dr. Aaron Shaheen, “One of Ours” by Willa CatherMarch 19: Dr. Matthew Guy, “Little Big Man” by Thomas BergerApril 2: Dr. Verbie Prevost, “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng
Aaron Shaheen
Verbie Prevost
Clif Cleaveland
Hugh PrevostWas one of your New Year's resolutions to broaden your reading interests this year?
If so, Take Five, a community book club, might be the inspiration you need.
Take Five will explore "the concept of frontiers" offered by five writers in a series of Tuesday night sessions January through April. Participants will discuss books with faculty from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga that are devoted to the overall theme of frontiers. Instead of approaching the books as academicians, these faculty members will focus on enjoying a shared reading and understanding of the chosen texts.
Take Five is open to the public and free to all interested readers.
The format of each session is a short, personal reaction to, or interpretation of, the chosen book by a UTC faculty member, which lasts about 30 minutes. Following a break for refreshments, there will be a 45-minute discussion of the book by the panel and audience. Following reactions from the panel, the audience will be invited to ask questions, make comments, or share their viewpoints on the reading.
Choosing a theme for Take Five is always a tough task, say organizers, but this year's panel decided to focus on the idea of "frontier" since that concept has been crucial in defining American identity.
Among questions to be considered: What happens when the frontier reaches its limit? Have Americans redefined themselves, or have they instead redefined the frontier? Is the concept of frontier limited just to Americans, or is it universal? What frontiers exist in addition to the Wild West? Are frontiers more figurative than literal?
Aaron Shaheen, UTC's current Connor Professor of American Literature and director of Take Five, says, "Newcomers who learn about the series each year contribute to the continued success and growth of Take Five. So while we look forward to seeing old friends, we also welcome newcomers. In fact, we invite all interested readers to any individual session or all of the sessions."
Parking on UTC's campus is free in all available lots after 5 p.m.
For more information, contact Aaron Shaheen at aaron-shaheen@utc.edu.