Class Description
This is a class for the curious and those interested in exploring works that push the boundaries of genre and convention. We will read novels with structure and formatting rarely seen in written work, stories told entirely through dialogue, books within books, and a blending of unexpected genres. The hope for each session is for students to walk away saying, “I’ve never read anything like this before.” Our selected works will cover a variety of themes, including femininity and masculinity, sexuality, immigration, national belonging, labor rights issues, the family, and the competing roles of science and religion in our understanding of the world.
Sarah Jeffries is a writing instructor at the University of Chicago. She holds an MA in Women & Gender Studies from Loyola University Chicago. Her interests combine feminist literary analysis and historical inquiry to explore twentieth century literature.
What to Expect
Format: In Person
Class Capacity: 12
Class Style: Mostly discussion; participation-based
Materials List
Required
- Italo Calvino, If On a Winter’s Night a Traveler. Mariner Book Classics, 1982. ISBN: 978-0156439619
- Shirley Jackson, Hangsaman. Penguin Classics, 2013. ISBN: 978-0143107040
- Larissa Lai, Salt Fish Girl. Thomas Allen Publishers, 2008. ISBN: 978-0887623820
- Salvador Plascencia, The People of Paper. HarperVia, 2006. ISBN: 978-0156032117
- Manuel Puig, The Kiss of the Spiderwoman. Vintage Books, 1991. ISBN: 978-0679724490
- Jeff VanderMeer, Annihilation. Picador, 2024. ISBN: 978-1250824042
First Reading
- Please read Larissa Lai’s Salt Fish Girl prior to class
A Brief Syllabus
- Combining Science Fiction and Myth
- Unconventional Formatting
- Stories Told Through Dialogue
- Biology and the (Un)Natural World
- Fiction and the End of the World
- Narratives within Narrative
Cost and Registration
This class is full, but you can still register for the waitlist on Learning Stream.
6 Sessions, $245 ($220.50 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.
We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($245), Community Supported ($225), and Sponsor ($265). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.
To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.
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