Public Invited to MCC Book Clubs

MESA, Arizona -- For book lovers eager to delve into literary discussions and meet others with a love for reading, Mesa Community College’s Book Clubs are the place to be.

This semester the club at MCC’s Southern and Dobson Campus will be reading Jennifer Finney Boylan's funny and revealing memoir, She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders, Boylan's narrative of her own transition process. It’s a book about growing up feeling wrong in your own body, and finding a way to fix it. 

For those closer to MCC at Red Mountain in northeast Mesa, the Red Mountain Book Club will be reading Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup. The book is based on an incredible true story of one man's fight for survival and freedom in the pre-Civil War United States.

MCC Book Clubs are comprised of a mix of students, faculty, staff, and community members. Kate Mohler, faculty member of the MCC English Department, said the clubs are a great community-building activity.

“We always have an interesting and very diverse group of people,” said Kate Mohler, Faculty, MCC English Department. “Our members gain insight into current events, social trends and different cultures by engaging in thought-provoking discussions.”

MCC student Kevin Johanek, of Tempe, said he had a wonderful experience attending last semester’s Book Club at Southern and Dobson.

“I've always liked to read, but I don't have a lot of friends who read, “Johanek said. “So this is a good opportunity for me to share thoughts with others who have read the same book. Everyone who was there WANTED to be there."

Another member, Anna Warner, said she’s excited to get started on a new book. 

"I loved Book Club and I plan to attend again this semester,” said Warner, who lives in Tempe but is originally from Holland.  “I liked the discussions and the club helped me improve my English. The instructor is very nice and I found everyone to be very friendly."

MCC’s Southern and Dobson Book Club will meet on Feb. 4 to hold a raffle to give away copies of She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders, and again on March 4 and April 8 to discuss and debate its content. Club large-group meetings are held from 2:45 to 4:15 p.m. in the Southwest Reading Room in the Library at MCC’s Southern and Dobson campus, 1833 W. Southern Ave. in Mesa. For more information, please contact Kate Mohler at katemohler@mesacc.edu.

MCC’s Red Mountain Book Club will meet from noon – 1 p.m. on Jan. 26, Feb. 23 and March 30 in the Mesquite Building, room 200, at MCC’s Red Mountain campus, 7110 E. McKellips Rd. in Mesa. Members can access the FREE e-book here: http://mesacc.libguides.com/RMBookClubSpring2015

For more information, please contact Elisabeth Rodriguez at errodrig@mesacc.edu.

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Contact  Dawn Zimmer, 480-461-7892, dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu

About Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College provides outstanding transfer and career and technical programs, workforce development, and life-long learning opportunities to residents of the East Valley area of Phoenix, Arizona. MCC excels in teaching, learning and empowering its more than 40,000 students who attend annually to succeed in a local and global community.  Mesa Community College is one of ten colleges that comprise the Maricopa County Community College District. For additional information please visit http://www.mesacc.edu.

The Maricopa County Community College District is an EEO/AA institution and an 
equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Source Details

Publication Date: 
Thursday, December 18, 2014