Trinity Alumni Inspiring Reads Book Club
Join the Trinity Alumni Book Club to connect with fellow Trinity alumni, faculty and staff as we read and discuss various book genres such as lifelong learning, personal growth, novels and other topics. Participation is free!
Upcoming Webinar
Dracula and Ireland: The Hidden Story’ with Professor Jarlath Killeen
Join us for this lunchtime webinar as Professor Jarlath Killeen, Lecturer in Victorian Literature in Trinity’s School of English, discusses the influence of Ireland on Dracula.
‘There is a reason why all things are as they are.’
Bram Stoker’s Dracula is one of the most famous pieces of English literature. Since its publication in 1987 the novel continues to endure, capturing imaginations the world over. Many of the figures in the book have entered popular culture as archetypal versions of their characters, and in the 125 years since its publication have made appearances in virtually all forms of media, from film to comics to novels by other authors.
If the event is fully booked, you can join the live stream at our YouTube channel.
If you are unable to attend, we will be recording the webinar and will make it available afterwards.
Inspiring Ideas @ Trinity is a webinar series produced by Trinity Development & Alumni.
How the Book Club Works:
We have created Inspiring Reads, a virtual book club for Trinity alumni, faculty and staff, covering lifelong learning, personal growth, novels and other books selected by our members. Books will include those written by Trinity alumni and Irish and International authors and chosen by Inspiring Reads members. The Inspiring Reads book club will connect through a private forum where all participants can discuss the current book and network with each other. Joining is free, but you'll need a copy of the book. The Inspiring Reads book club will read one book every two months so that you will have plenty of time for each book.
Why Join?
- Connect with Fellow Alumni: The Inspiring Reads Trinity book club will introduce you to fellow alumni across industries, generations and geographies, all while gaining different perspectives while reading the book.
- Embrace Lifelong Learning: By using a 3rd party to facilitate the book club, Inspiring Reads will be a dynamic space where thought-provoking questions, articles and discussions relevant to the book's subject will be posted regularly.
- Actually Discuss a Book: Have you ever joined a book club where little time is spent discussing the book? Inspiring Reads will be solely to discuss a particular book.
- Engage When It's Convenient to You: By joining an online book club, you can engage at your convenience from the comfort of your home.
Volunteer with the Inspiring Reads Book Club as a Discussion Leader
Discussion Leaders act as book club superstars by being active, friendly, and committed members interested in helping us cultivate the dialogue. If you are looking forward to our next book, are eager to connect with others in the discussion, and aren’t shy to share your opinion, we encourage you to sign up to be a Discussion Leader in our Inspiring Reads Book Club this reading period!
The moderator will still create the discussion topics and questions, post the suggested reading schedule, and help guide the flow of conversation. As a Discussion Leader, we encourage you to:
- Post at least one comment on each book topic in the forum
- Reply to fellow book club members’ posts to build that sense of community
- Ask follow-up questions or pose new questions for consideration (we will send you bonus material and resources to help with this).
If being a Discussion Leader is of interest to you, click here to opt-in at any point.
Rewatch the discussion with Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? author Seamas O'Reilly
We were delighted to interview Séamas O’Reilly, author of the award-winning novel Did Ye Hear Mammy Died?, a moving but witty account of a young boy’s experience of grief and family life in 1990s Derry. Originally live-streamed, Wednesday 5th July 2023.
Rewatch Q&A with Snowflake author Louise Nealon
What has influenced and inspired Trinity graduate Louise Nealon, author of the best-selling novel Snowflake? Louise studied English Literature at Trinity and, in 2017, won the prestigious Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition. Her debut novel Snowflake was published in 2021, with the film and TV rights quickly snapped up by Element Pictures, the same production company that adapted Sally Rooney's Normal People and Conversations with Friends. In a wide-ranging discussion, Dr Margaret Robson, Teaching Fellow in the School of English at Trinity, Louise talks about what inspired her to become a writer and about her novel Snowflake, diving into the influences and experiences that shaped the book. They will also discuss her path to literary success, literary inspirations, and more.
Rewatch Q&A with The Midnight Library author Matt Haig
Matt Haig is the author of seventeen books, including the New York Times bestseller The Midnight Library (a Good Morning America Book Club pick), the internationally bestselling memoir Reasons to Stay Alive, along with five novels, including How to Stop Time, and several award-winning children’s books. His work has been translated into more than forty languages.
Rewatch Q&A with The Vanishing Half author Britt Bennett
Born and raised in Southern California, author Brit Bennett graduated from Stanford University. She later earned her MFA in fiction at the University of Michigan, where she won a Hopwood Award in Graduate Short Fiction. In 2014, she received the Hurston/Wright Award for College Writers. She is a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree, and her debut novel The Mothers was a New York Times bestseller. Her second novel, The Vanishing Half, was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. Her essays have been featured in The New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, The Paris Review, and Jezebel.