In January 2025, the UVA Library is starting an annual reading challenge that will explore one author a month through a novel or short stories. Every year will feature a new theme.
From Sherri Brown, Librarian for English, and Amy Hunsaker, Librarian for Music & Performing Arts:
We’re excited that for the inaugural reading challenge in 2025, we will dive into Gothic literature written by women authors, beginning with an early Gothic novel written in the 18th century and moving chronologically to end with contemporary 21st-century Gothic fiction.
Our goal is to engage students, faculty, staff, and members of the Charlottesville community, although we welcome all readers who may be interested in joining our discussions. The challenge will primarily take place online on a private UVA Library-hosted Facebook group but we will host a live kick-off event in Shannon Library in January 2025. Readers will be able to earn a customized bookplate for each book they read.
Many of the books chosen for this challenge are found in our collections and/or are available in the public domain. In addition, the Library IDEA Committee awarded funds to purchase 20-25 copies of contemporary titles written by diverse female authors to help offset the cost of contemporary Gothic fiction. The Library will partner with New Dominion Bookshop, a local, woman-owned book store, to purchase and distribute books to some of our readers.
There is still time to join! You can follow the full challenge or read just a few works that pique your interest. There are two ways to participate:
- Join the Facebook group to follow and participate in the conversation.
- OR, join our email list! We will send content to your inbox in one convenient monthly email.
