Grand Valley State University’s Book Club, a student-run organization, aims to create a positive space for all who enjoy reading and literature related activities. The club creates opportunities for discussion, and allows students to find books they relate to or might be entertained by. 

The club’s readings don’t have assigned chapters, and participants can read at their own pace. Certain attendees of the club are very voracious readers, while others merely want to participate in conversations about general themes of a book.

On top of discussing books, the book club provides an array of literature themed events. They play games, watch movie adaptations of books, throw literature themed parties and organize potlucks. For example, last year the group threw a Halloween costume party, and the club plans to throw more recreational events in the future.

“The book club is open to students, nontraditional students, grad students and anyone who wants to join” said the president of GVSU Book Club, Alex Olmstead.

Taking suggestions, the club votes on what novel will be their focus for the month. However, they also like to keep things fresh when choosing book options to vote on. Last semester, during Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, club leadership chose books for voting that included aromantic characters. Participants in the club analyzed the political themes and representation of aromantic characters in Rosiee Thor’s “Fire Becomes Her.” The dystopian novel, set in an alternate 1920s universe dominated by class struggle, was the most voted for pick in honor of the awareness week.

The fantasy world novel explores the complexities of identity through a political lens, centering on issues like power, class and societal roles. As participants discussed the book, conversations naturally steered toward how these themes paralleled real-life political climates. Many emphasized the relevance of these topics, such as how marginalized identities are treated within institutional systems and the importance of self-advocacy. Participants contemplated how governments, both fictional and real, shape the experiences of communities. 

Olmstead emphasized that it’s important to club members that their space be welcoming of all views and thoughts about the readings.

“Book club remains a safe, fun and welcoming space, regardless of (a) student’s background,” said Olmstead.

The book club is currently reading “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt. The novel is a thriller about a group of college students who gradually lose their sense of morality while participating in their close-knit ancient Greek philosophy club. GVSU Book Club meets on Thursdays at 8 p.m., with the location being posted on their Instagram.