Fridays with Dostoyevsky

Fridays with Dostoyevsky

Al Stover / Reporting and Photography

published in issue 41.3 of the SFCC Communicator

Frankie Viner sits at the table as students pass by. In front of her are paperback copies of Virgil’s Aeneid, Dostoyevsky’s The Devils, Silko’s Almanac of the Dead, and Melville’s The Confidence-Man.

Viner, a second-year student, is just one of the members who is a part of SFCC’s Lit Club.

SFCC English Instructor, Ryan Simmons is currently helping Viner and her fellow club members get the Lit Club off of the ground. According to Simmons, the Lit Club is essentially a book club for students.

“It gives students who are interested in reading an opportunity to connect with like minded souls here at SFCC,” Simmons said.

According to Viner, the Lit Club unofficially began last spring quarter with six members who met every other Friday.

“We (had) read some great books in class, and we decided to get together and discuss them,” Viner said.

The Lit Club has already read and reviewed The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and The Cave by Jose Saramago. The club picks its selections by first having members suggest what books they would like to read, then putting them to a vote.

Adam Bradley, a second-year student, said Viner recommended the club to him.

According to Derrick Annis, the Editor of the Wire Harp, the club’s membership increased after Club Day.

“We had up to 25 (people)who are interested so far,” Annis said.

Natalie Lester, a second-year student, said discussing literature with other people has helped motivate her to read more outside of school.
The Lit Club had their first meeting of the school year Sept. 24 where they wrote up their constitution and submitted it to the Activities Board. According to Viner, the constitution is currently under review.

“We should know within the next few weeks,” Viner said. “After the review we’ll be added to the agenda and receive a budget.”

According to Simmons, the Lit Club has already begun to brainstorm ideas for activities and events for the year.

“Field trips to literary readings, or sites, book drives, and a fundraiser or two,” Simmons said.

Viner said one focus for the Lit Club in the first few weeks is to discuss and vote on reading selections suggested by new members.

“We’ll see what books they want to read and take a vote,” Viner said. 


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Fridays with Dostoyevsky


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