466. HAVE YOU READ? THREE NEW BOOKS FOR SUMMER 2025

Margaret Hallissy

This exciting, in-depth study of three books for this summer will begin on the first Friday of June, and then continue on the second Friday of July and finish on the second Friday of August. Join us for a stimulating discussion of the titles below:

June 6: Rita Bullwinkel, Headshot. ISBN 978-0593654125. Women’s boxing: has there ever been another novel exploring this niche sport? This one, according to New York Times reviewer M.J. Franklin (June 3, 2024), is not just about boxing, but “about the existential maelstrom of teenage girlhood.” There is more than one way for a girl to fight, and more than one opponent. (Be careful! There are several books with this same title, so check the author’s name before you read.)

 July 11: Kaveh Akbar, Martyr! ISBN 978-0593685778. The controversial subject of immigration is explored through the story of Cyrus Shams. As a five-month-old, Cyrus lost his mother when an American missile shot down an Iranian plane – a historical event which becomes the focal point of the novel. Paradoxically, Cyrus’ father then decides to emigrate – to the United States. How is Cyrus to live his life as an American under these circumstances?

August 8: Tommy Orange, Wandering Stars. ISBN 978-0593318256. This family saga, a follow-up to Orange’s earlier novel There There, traces the story of three generations of Native Americans living in Colorado in the nineteenth century. The key historical event affecting them is the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre – an event which was overshadowed by the Civil War at the time, and in later history and textbooks. If time permits, please read, or reread, There There, before reading Wandering Stars. ABOUT THE LECTURER

10 – 12 noon                                                                                                                                     3 Sessions

Fridays, June 6, July 11, and August 8                                                                                       Fee:  $100

ABOUT THE LECTURER

Margaret Hallissy is Professor of English with specialties in medieval literature, Irish literature, and the modern phenomenon of “book groups,” which have sprung up in communities throughout the nation. She has written numerous articles and scholarly books, including works on book group procedures and leadership, as well as Irish-American fiction.