KATARINA MARIC / ASST. FEATURE EDITOR

AMELIE SEDLACK / FEATURE EDITOR

Once upon a time in room 204 of Saints Tekakwitha and Serra Hall, swivel chairs dragged across the crimson carpet to circle, pages of books fluttered wide open and dove into fairy tales and literary traditions. 

Organized by the Humanities Center and led by Adjunct Instructor of English Lisa B. Smith PhD., the Great Read Series is an ongoing series of events, offering four sessions each semester dedicated to discussing a certain novel. 

From employees of the Italian department, university ministry members and some daring students, the room flowed with lively conversation encompassing many perspectives and facets of USD. Smith said that the purpose of the Great Reads Series is to connect staff, community members and students, creating a space for book-lovers and intellectual discussion. 

Smith explained the reason for the series’ creation. 

“A sort of public humanities is how we think of it, it’s just a chat with no pressure, and people are very enthusiastic,” Smith said. “They really just want to read a book and to talk about it.” 

Smith shared how the series compares to a class, emphasizing its relaxed atmosphere. 

“No one is getting units or a grade,” Smith continued. “It’s all people who want to be here, a really great open-minded group, and they’re older than a general class — we do have students too — so there is a little less inhibition to talk.” 

Previously, the group held panels on “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë, and “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë. This semester’s read is Angela Carter’s “The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories,” which is a retelling of traditional fairy tales and a new perspective on conventional views. Unlike the previous focal texts, Carter is less known to Americans despite being a prominent author.

On March 5, the first session of the semester, the conversation surrounded Carter’s recreation of the fairy tale “Bluebeard.” The story originally followed a wealthy, terrifying blue-bearded man who killed his wives for violating a forbidden room in his house. 

Sprinkling in historical details and context, Smith introduced the novel and led the discussion. She drew on the darker subtexts and threads of the fairy tales. First written in the 17th century as humorous moral folk tales, fairy tales were never for children. 

It wasn’t until Disney’s portrayal that they evolved into media meant for children, which the group touched on during the event. Brooke Soldan, an employee of the USD physics department, has been attending the series since its start. She shared her passion for book clubs and reading alongside other people. 

“I did book club a lot growing up,” Soldan shared. “It’s been a part of my life forever, and when I found out that it might be more employee-focused, I thought that would be fun. I read a lot of books by myself, so it’s so fun to be able to read and discuss as a community because I’m not telling my friends to read the same 600-page books. It’s structured enough that we can all meet and talk about it. It’s the community part that I think is fun.”

This book club setting is a favorite of many attendees with the series’s ability to strengthen the community at USD — from students, faculty, staff and community members.

“Everyone is welcome,” Smith said. “To me, we have all these people that love to talk about things with great interests, and I would love to see more, not necessarily a book group, but little mini lectures, mini talks, with no pressure.” 

Book lovers from across campus come together to discuss and relax with a good book. 

Art by Kyra Lefebvre