In Margaret Kennedy’s insanely great The Feast (1949), guests assemble at a seaside resort in Cornwall only to have things go TERRIBLY WRONG. The plot—one of the best  Kimberly has read in ages—might feel gimmicky except it’s TOTALLY  INGENIOUS. One of the most compelling, most satisfying books Kimberly has read in ages, The Feast promises to charm and absorb every reader.

Jeanette Winterson’s Frankisstein (2019) was a revelation for Kimberly. The novel (like Frankenstein’s monster itself) plays with the idea of hybrids, alternating between the speculative fiction front story—concerning the incredibly appealing trans Dr. Stein—and a backstory of historical fiction that vividly recounts Mary Shelley’s writing of Frankenstein.

A notorious figure in Hollywood in the 60s and 70s, Babitz writes prose that is incredibly evocative, fresh, lovely and strangely real. Slow Days (1977) consists of ten sketches that hang together beautifully, somewhere between memoir and fiction. A visual artist who designed record album covers, an acclaimed writer who is often compared to Didion, goddaughter of Igor Stravinsky, and one-time lover of Jim Morrison, Ed Ruscha, Steve Martin, and Harrison Ford, Babitz would be interesting to read even if her prose WASN’T unique and so crazy good.

Nancy Mitford is another writer whom Kimberly cannot understand how she lived without! Mitford—think eccentric English aristocracy in the early 1900s—is one of the most clever, funniest, smartest writers Kimberly has read.

This book is amazing: clear but ingeniously deep, harrowing but hilarious, ultra-smart and down to earth. At the risk of raising overselling, Kimberly keeps wondering if it might just be the perfect novel. Join her for a deep dive to see if you love it as much as she does!

Tackling everything from Sacramento to John Wayne to Howard Hughes to Haight-Ashbury, these incisive, gorgeous essays focus on California in the 1960s but are timeless and ever-relevant.

If a Western doesn’t sound like your thing—you must join us! Set in the South Dakota of the 1870s, the book takes us into new territory (literally) where colorful, warm prose brings to life Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok, and a whole slew of complex, memorable people.

This valuable voice from a woman at the turn of last century will be SO cool to dissect in the Seminars. If you’re tempted by a classic that’s actually really juicy, you’ll love Ethan Frome.

A Thousand Acres very deservedly won the Pulitzer and for very good reason. It’s the rare book that combines heady Shakespearean tragedy with your favorite thoroughly American family saga.

Each Seminar combines the deep pleasure of reading an exceptional book with the depth of a college-level lecture.

Each Seminar combines the deep pleasure of reading an exceptional book with the depth of a college-level lecture.

Oranges handles huge questions of sexuality, class, loyalty and religion with the deftest, lightest touch. The book is warm and funny and really smart.

Oranges handles huge questions of sexuality, class, loyalty and religion with the deftest, lightest touch. The book is warm and funny and really smart.

Whether or not you’ve already read the perennial favorite, join Kimberly for a deeper look into what makes A Year so magical.

Whether or not you’ve already read the perennial favorite, join Kimberly for a deeper look into what makes A Year so magical.

Longtime seminar-goers know that it takes a really excellent contemporary novel to be chosen for the series. Fleishman is that kind of novel.

Longtime seminar-goers know that it takes a really excellent contemporary novel to be chosen for the series. Fleishman is that kind of novel.

Carr’s prose is just so gorgeous and the story is intriguing. It will be so good to pull apart the ingenious elements of this gem.

Carr’s prose is just so gorgeous and the story is intriguing. It will be so good to pull apart the ingenious elements of this gem.

THIS SESSION IS ONLINE

THIS SESSION IS ONLINE

THIS SESSION IS ONLINE

THIS SESSION IS ONLINE

THIS SESSION IS ONLINE

THIS SESSION IS ONLINE

THIS SESSION IS ONLINE

THIS SESSION IS ONLINE