The Joy Davis Literature Seminar is a great way to connect with literature and each other. We learn more about our members and discuss some quite edgy ideas at times. Join us as we look at an essay as a literary form and essay structure through these readings. Links are provided below and hard copies of the readings for 2025 will be available at the January 7 meeting, and you can email Carol Hanson at carolehanson6@gmail.com for an electronic copy.
Please join us for a good discussion! Everyone is welcome.
Carol Hanson
Joy Davis Literature Seminar Discussion Leader
Use the button below to learn more about Joy Davis and what she has meant to our Branch. You can click the other button to see previous readings.
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
“Stone Soup” by Barbara Kingsolver
This essay recounts the view that society has on divorced families/homes. Barbara Ellen Kingsolver is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, essayist, and poet. Her widely known works include Flight Behavior and The Poisonwood Bible, You may access the text at https://www.tucsonweekly.com/tw/09-28-95/cover.htm
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
“Heroin/e” by Cheryl Strayed
Cheryl Strayed is one of our own Minnesota authors, and she is best known for her book “Wild.” “Heroin/e” is an essay of her journey with her mother in the last part of her mother’s life. You may access the text at: https://junklit.com/2012/09/16/heroine/
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
“Not Here To Make Friends” by Roxane Gay
This essay discusses the importance of unlikable female protagonists in literature. It argues that unlikeable male characters are often seen as complex or interesting, but unlikeable female characters are criticized for their unlikability. You may access the text at: https://www.buzzfeed.com/roxanegay/not-here-to-make-friends-unlikable
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
“Everybody’s Somebody’s Baby” by Barbara Kingsolver
We close our year with “Everybody’s Somebody’s Baby,” also written by Barbara Kingsolver. While this is a short essay, it provides plenty of food for thought. You may access the text at: https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/98/10/18/specials/kingsolver-hers.html?source=post_page-
Remembering Joy Davis
Dr. Joy Lee Davis
b. April 3, 1931
d. May 27, 2021
“Joy loved learning and helping others learn. I often think of things that I wish I could ask her or run by her. I will never forget the impact that she had on my life.” Carol Hanson
Who is Joy Davis?
Just our inspiration!
Read more about Joy’s amazing life here, and Carol’s personal remembrance here.
Previous Readings
November 14, 2023 – “Deep Holes” by Alice Munro. Published in 2008
LINK to the story: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/06/30/deep-holes
October 17, 2023 – “The Knowers” by Helen Phillips. Published in 2013
LINK to the story: https://electricliterature.com/the-knowers-helen-phillips/
February 21, 2023 – “Anything Could Disappear” by Danielle Evans
LINK to the story: https://electricliterature.com/anything-could-disappear-danielle-evans/
October 18, 2022 – “Jubilee” by Kirstin Valdez Quade
LINK to the story: https://www.guernicamag.com/jubilee/
November 15, 2022 – “The Faery Handbag” by Kelly Link
LINK to the story: https://kellylink.net/books/magic-for-beginners-old/the-faery-handbag
January 16, 2024 – Poems by Ada Limón
“The Carrying” – https://poets.org/poem/carrying
“Instructions on Not Giving Up” – https://poets.org/poem/instructions-not-giving
“The Raincoat” – https://poets.org/poem/raincoat
“Dead Stars” – https://poets.org/poem/dead-stars
“A New National Anthem” – https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/adalimon/poem-a-new-national-anthem-by-ada-limon#.nn0XeeXqW
“Give Me This” – https://poets.org/poem/give-me
February 20, 2024 – Flash Fiction
“Everyone Cried” by Lydia Davis
“This is How you Fail to Ghost Him” by Victoria McCurdy
“Angels and Blueberries” by Tara Campbell
“Emma” by Victoria Macleod
November 12, 2024
“The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees” by E. Lily Yu.
Updated: 1/6/25