Religious oppression. Social stigma. Betrayal. Violence. Death.
Welcome to a recent meeting of UCLA’s Friends of English book club. Close to 50 booklovers met at the home of author and UCLA English professor Mona Simpson to explore the complex themes and relationships in James Joyce’s "Dubliners." Facilitating the event was English professor Helen Deutsch, who provided context for the interconnected stories of daily life in the Irish city.
But Friends of English is much more than a book club. The group supports UCLA’s English department by funding graduate fellowships and scholarships for high school students, underwriting faculty and student research and sharing the benefits of the department’s academic programs with the Los Angeles community.
There are actually three Friends book clubs hosted in private homes and facilitated by outstanding UCLA English professors as well as a list of interesting and diverse classes to audit.
“Our reach is broad,” said Kathy Ballsun, the group’s president. “We have members from all over the country who are intensely loyal to the department, but we are also focused on fueling a love for literature in our local community.”
Friends has also begun a series of literary salons for young alumni at the Hammer Museum and co-sponsors other events at the Hammer that are open to the public. These include “Some Favorite Writers” hosted by Mona Simpson and “Hammer Poetry Series” hosted by Stephen Yenser, a distinguished professor of English and director of creative writing at UCLA.
“It’s very exciting to bring together intellectually curious people who share a love of English,” concluded Ballsun.” Together we’re making a meaningful contribution to English at UCLA.”
This story was adapted from one that appears in UCLA Magazine.
