Temple University’s recent addition to unite more students through reading comes in the form of a Brown Bag Lunch book club.
Born from the mind of Margaret Jerrido, Paley Library Administrator, Brown Bag Lunch’s objective is to promote and encourage college students to go beyond the books selected by university professors by offering more diverse and inclusive material for all races, genders and sexualities.
Jerrido took the initiative to create a book club from Mayor John F. Street and Elliot L. Shelkrot, Philadelphia’s Free Library president and director, from the program, “One Book, One Philadelphia” in the winter of 2003.
Brown Bag Lunch’s first book club session was held in February, when they discussed Philadelphian native Lorene Cary’s novel, “The Price of a Child.” The One Book selection committee chose the book, according to Temple Libraries, “because of its emotional account of slavery and the Underground Railroad and its close connection with Philadelphia.”
Brown Bag Lunch’s novel for September was also closely connected to Philadelphia, through setting and author.
L.A. Banks third novel, “Minion: The Vampire Huntress Legend,” is about a vampire slayer named Damali Richards. One of the most promising new stars of Warriors of Light Records, Damali is approaching her 21st birthday when she learns she must protect the world from an evil that threatens to create unprecedented violence and darkness in a world already drowning in an abyss of ruin and despair.
Damali must also escape the dark forces that struggle to eliminate Damali before her 21st birthday when she gains her full powers.
The conflict between good and evil will wage another war, but who will win?
The October session will be held in Paley Library’s Lecture Hall where the book club will be finishing up the second half of Minion and where the author L.A. Banks may join them again.
She surprised everyone when she showed up on Sept. 11, 2003, especially Jerrido.
Banks tentatively promised to join them in October where she hopes to hear students’ and faculty opinion on Minion. Her fourth novel will be coming out soon and she is currently working on her fifth, which is yet to be titled.
In November, the book club will discuss James W. Loewen’s novel, “Lies My Teacher Told Me.” The reason for the assigning of the novels is due to the lack of time to complete and discuss each novel in depth.
Students should remember each novel is chosen by members of the book club, not Jerrido herself.
The club is to gather students and faculty at a specified time to discuss popular novels that are in the interest of the members. According to Jerrido, “the randomness is due to the fact that the book club has recently been formed and because there is no continuity of membership.”
Brown Bag Lunch book club is open to the entire Temple community.
Each meeting will be held the second Thursday of the month between noon and 12:45 p.m. in the Paley Lecture Hall located on the ground floor of Paley Library.
The schedule of Brown Bag Lunch may change in the future in order to invite more students to join.
If students are interested in joining, sign on to the Book Club listserve by contacting Jerrido at mj@temple.edu or call (215) 204-6639.
Alexis Morgan can be reached at krysten@astro.temple.edu.
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