Dear Friends of Take Five,
The theme for Take Five 2023 is “Youth and the City.” By the census of 1920, the United States had shifted from a majority-rural population to a majority-urban/suburban one. This demographic shift brought about a number of social, political, and economic changes that helped bring the world of yesterday and today into better focus. In many cases, the shock of this new world was felt most by the youth. Not all the readings listed below are specific to the 1920s, nor are all of them set in the United States. Still, I hope you’ll find these books—some presented by Take Five regulars, while others by newcomers—emotionally and intellectually engaging.
Always free and open to the public, the five sessions will take place Tuesday nights on the dates below at 6 PM in the Chattanooga Room of the University Center. Parking is free in most UTC lots by that time of day. We will also serve a light dinner. The books are available at the UTC Bookstore and at any online retailer. No RSVP needed, so come as you are and bring a friend or two!
- January 24—Dr. Carl Springer: Carl Springer’s Luther’s Rome, Rome’s Luther
- February 7—Dr. Verbie Prevost: Amor Towles’s A Gentleman in Moscow
- February 28—Dr. Aaron Shaheen: John Dos Passos’s Manhattan Transfer
- March 21—Prof. Sybil Baker: NK Jemisin’s The City We Became
- April 4—Dr. Victoria Bryan: Jonathan Safran Foer’s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
For any questions, please contact me at Aaron-Shaheen@utc.edu
Warmly,
Aaron Shaheen
George C. Connor Professor of American Literature
Take Five is sponsored by the Connor Professor of American Literature, the SunTrust Chair of Excellence in the Humanities, the UTC Department of English and the Connor Society
