The Book Society and the University of Sheffield Library have invited students to participate in their First Gen Voices Reading Group, the latest event in their Reading for Diversity programme. The group, dedicated to reading books from a range of authors, will be discussing Educated in the upcoming event, the best-selling book about family, religion and the transformative impacts of education by Tara Westover.
The extraordinary memoir details Westover’s experiences growing up in a survivalist Mormon family in Idaho, isolated from most of society. The author details how she was never enrolled in school, never saw a doctor and had no one to help her when her older brother became increasingly violent. Her journey would take her all the way to Harvard and Cambridge, and would demonstrate the unparalleled life-changing empowerment of an education.
Since 2021, the Reading for Diversity programme has offered students the opportunity to come together to critically engage with, reflect on, and discuss books from diverse and often underrepresented voices and perspectives. The sessions are informal and open to all students. Books discussed in recent reading groups include Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H and The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris. Books for discussion are chosen by students, and all shortlisted and discussed books are added to the Reading for Diversity Leganto Reading list.
The latest event in the collaboration’s programme is set to further explore work from underrepresented writers, and invites all students to hear from different voices in the literary community. It is hoped that this event will be another successful venture for the society, continuing the work they have championed so far this year.
The First Gen Voices Reading Group will take place at 7pm on April 30th in the Digital Commons room in the Information Commons. Print and ebook copies of the memoir are available on StarPlus, and registration for the session is available here
