Since 2021, these groups have 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 previous reading groups include A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum and On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong.
Reading groups are timed to celebrate awareness months and/or complement exhibitions in the Digital Exhibition Space on Level One of the Information Commons (IC). Books are chosen by students, and all shortlisted and discussed books are added to the Reading for Diversity Leganto Reading list.
The LGBTQ+ History Month Reading Group will take place on Tuesday 27th February at 7pm in the Digital Commons room in the IC and will be discussing Hijab Butch Blues, Lamya H’s remarkable debut coming-of-age memoir. The book recounts her experiences as a queer hijabi Muslim navigating culture, faith and societal expectations from childhood through to early adult life. Print and ebook copies are available on StarPlus, the Library discovery tool.
Students can register for the session here: http://tinyurl.com/hijabutchblues
For more information about the Reading for Diversity programme visit the University Library workshops webpage. Information about other events run by the Book Society can be found on Instagram @uosbooksoc, the ‘University of Sheffield Book Society’ Facebook group, or by emailing booksoc@shef.ac.uk.