Led by long-time English teacher and past AAUW St. Paul president, Carol Hanson, Joy Davis’s 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 at 1:15 p.m. on select Tuesdays. All are welcome!
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, November 12, 2024
For our November selection, we will discuss “The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees” by E. Lily Yu. Unfortunately, the story in its entirety has now been removed from the Internet. This short story is the last of the literature in the JDLS 2023-24 booklet. Hard copies of the story will be available at the Tuesday meetings, or you can contact Carol Hanson at carolehanson6@gmail.com for an electronic copy.
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Join us in the new year as we look at the essay as a literary form and learn about essay structure while discussing the essay “Stone Soup.” In “Stone Soup,” American novelist, Barbara Kingsolver, recounts the view that society has on divorced families/homes. Please join us for a good discussion! You may access the text at https://www.tucsonweekly.com/tw/09-28-95/cover.htm
Hard copies of the readings for 2025 will be available early in 2025, and you can always reach Carol Hanson at carolehanson6@gmail.com for an electronic copy.
Carol Hanson
Joy Davis Literature Seminar Discussion Leader
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
Updated: 7/26/2024