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Why Read Over the Summer?

If you’re already someone who reads for pleasure, you know what that pleasure is like; if you’re not, then you’ll have to trust us that it’s a lot of fun to read when you don’t have to worry about a quiz or a paper.

If picking up a work of literature can feel like wandering into a gym full of body builders, think of this as a judgment-free, no-pressure fitness program.

Some practical benefits:

  • Becoming a better reader will serve you well in any field of study, and practically any career.
  • Reading good books also makes you a better writer and speaker, more able to capture and command people’s attention with your words.
  • Talking about books you’ve read can also help you make a good first impression on people, from first dates to job interviews.
  • Being a reader is a quality people admire (as long as you’re not too smug about it)!

We’ve chosen poetry and short stories in part because they’re short: easy to finish no matter your reading pace and easy to hold in your mind all at once when discussing so that we can all be on the same page, literally and figuratively. As they say about classic games like chess and poker, these stories take “minutes to learn and a lifetime to master.” Come read with us!

The schedule of Summer Tales 2021

6/1/2021 – 6/25/2021
Carmen Maria Machado: Eight Bites
6/28/2021 – 7/23/2021
Rita Dove: Adolescence-II
Li-Young Lee: Persimmons
Natalie Díaz: My Brother at 3 A.M.
Natasha Trethewey: Rotation
7/26/2021 – 8/18/2021
Julie Otsuka: Diem Perdidi

 


See also