Book Club: Scarborough (2017)
Author of the bestselling book and screenwriter of the multiple award-winning film Scarborough, Catherine Hernandez engages the audience in a discussion about sincere community engagement. Using one of the novel and movie’s most beloved characters, Ms. Hina, as a model, Hernandez parses out how we as a society can build sustainable and sincere bridges with those around us, and continue to have hope despite these challenging times.
Catherine Hernandez (she/her) is an award-winning author and screenwriter. She is a proud queer woman who is of Filipino, Spanish, Chinese, and Indian descent and married into the Navajo Nation. Her first novel, Scarborough, won the Jim Wong-Chu Award for the unpublished manuscript and was a finalist for several awards including Canada Reads 2022. She wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of Scarborough, which was nominated for 11 Canadian Screen Awards and won eight including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Her second novel, Crosshairs, was shortlisted for the Toronto Book Award and made several Best-Of lists of 2020. Her third novel, The Story of Us, was an instant national bestseller. Her fourth novel, Behind You, about a young girl growing up in Scarborough when a serial killer was at large, was published this year and was an instant national bestseller. Before it hit the shelves, it was optioned by Conquering Lion Pictures to become a feature film, with Hernandez writing the screenplay. She is currently working on a few television projects.
Meeting times:
12 noon Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024
Spiva Library 410
Free boxed lunch for first 15 participants
Admission: free
Sponsored by Literary Lions; open to all
11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024
Joplin Avenue Coffee, 506 S. Joplin Ave.
Hosted by Sigma Tau Delta in cooperation with Spiva Library; open to all
Scarborough [Libby/Overdrive ebook] by Becoming a Lifelong Ally
12 noon Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024
Ron Richard Athletic Center, Room 205
Admission: free (open only to students, faculty, and staff)
This is a free pizza luncheon, with a vegetarian option, hosted by the MSSU DEI Committee.
Canadian author Catherine Hernandez will examine embodied “allyship” based on her renowned TEDxToronto Talk. (View it at https://www.ted.com/talks/catherine_hernandez_a_guide_to_lifelong_allyship.) Participants will have the opportunity to create a daily practice training the body toward creating sincere and sustainable change. If you have a question you would like to submit to Catherine Hernandez beforehand, email it to carmichael-a@mssu.edu by Nov. 6.
Give Them Joy! for The Whole Story
12 noon Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024
Connor Ballroom in Billingsly Student Center
Admission: free
Resilience and grace in the face of adversity is a common theme in Catherine Hernandez’s work. In this in-depth talk and literary reading, Hernandez discusses the dangers of romanticizing resilience and how she aims to give her characters dignity and hope.
An Evening with Catherine Hernandez
7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024
(Book signings at 6:30 and immediately following)
Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall
Zoom link: https://mssu-edu.zoom.us/j/82853033150
Admission: free
Co-sponsored by Spiva Library
Author of the bestselling book and screenwriter of the multiple award-winning film Scarborough, Catherine Hernandez engages the audience in a discussion about sincere community engagement. Using one of the novel and movie’s most beloved characters, Ms. Hina, as a model, Hernandez parses out how we as a society can build sustainable and sincere bridges with those around us, and continue to have hope despite these challenging times.
Catherine Hernandez (she/her) is an award-winning author and screenwriter. She is a proud queer woman who is of Filipino, Spanish, Chinese, and Indian descent and married into the Navajo Nation. Her first novel, Scarborough, won the Jim Wong-Chu Award for the unpublished manuscript and was a finalist for several awards including Canada Reads 2022. She wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of Scarborough, which was nominated for 11 Canadian Screen Awards and won eight including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Her second novel, Crosshairs, was shortlisted for the Toronto Book Award and made several Best-Of lists of 2020. Her third novel, The Story of Us, was an instant national bestseller. Her fourth novel, Behind You, about a young girl growing up in Scarborough when a serial killer was at large, was published this year and was an instant national bestseller. Before it hit the shelves, it was optioned by Conquering Lion Pictures to become a feature film, with Hernandez writing the screenplay. She is currently working on a few television projects.
Book Club: The Maid (2022)
Nita Prose’s bestseller, The Maid (2022), features a thrilling murder mystery set in The Regency Grand Hotel. The murder of Mr. Black, a wealthy businessman, ignites shock and confusion for the staff, with blame landing on one unsuspecting maid, Molly Gray. The story follows Molly as she finds herself at the forefront of the investigation because of her quirky and misunderstood behavior. While Molly may seem odd or different to others, this coming-of-age novel focuses on the search for truth and the importance of meaningful relationships.
Nita Prose is a Canadian author and editor, selling more than 1 million copies worldwide of her award-winning books The Maid and The Mystery Guest. The Maid was a #1 New York Times Bestseller, winner of the Ned Kelly Award for International Crime Fiction, and an International Bestseller. Film rights for The Maid are held by Universal Pictures.
The Canada Semester Book Club is hosted by Missouri Southern’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society, in cooperation with Spiva Library. Learn more about all Literary Lions book clubs at https://linktr.ee/mssulibrary.
Meeting time:
11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024
Joplin Avenue Coffee, 506 S. Joplin Ave.
Admission: free
The Maid [Libby/Overdrive ebook] by
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK * "A heartwarming mystery with a lovable oddball at its center" (Real Simple), this cozy whodunit introduces a one-of-a-kind heroine who will steal your heart. FINALIST FOR THE EDGAR® AWARD * "The reader comes to understand Molly's worldview, and to sympathize with her longing to be accepted--a quest that gives The Maid real emotional heft."--The New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice) "Think Clue. Think page-turner."--Glamour ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Reader's Digest WINNER: The Anthony Award, The Fingerprint Award, The Barry Award In development as a major motion picture Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by. Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life's complexities all by herself. No matter--she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection. But Molly's orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what's happening, Molly's unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black--but will they be able to find the real killer before it's too late? A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different--and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart. ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, The Guardian, Glamour, Elle, PopSugar, Newsweek, Mental Floss, She Reads, Kirkus Reviews
The Maid [Libby/Overdrive audiobook] by
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK * "A heartwarming mystery with a lovable oddball at its center" (Real Simple), this cozy whodunit introduces a one-of-a-kind heroine who will steal your heart. FINALIST FOR THE EDGAR® AWARD * "The reader comes to understand Molly's worldview, and to sympathize with her longing to be accepted--a quest that gives The Maid real emotional heft."--The New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice) "Think Clue. Think page-turner."--Glamour ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Reader's Digest WINNER: The Anthony Award, The Fingerprint Award, The Barry Award In development as a major motion picture Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by. Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life's complexities all by herself. No matter--she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection. But Molly's orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what's happening, Molly's unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black--but will they be able to find the real killer before it's too late? A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different--and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart. ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, The Guardian, Glamour, Elle, PopSugar, Newsweek, Mental Floss, She Reads, Kirkus Reviews
Reading Canada: An Afternoon of Canadian Literature
This afternoon of readings will highlight Canada’s diverse voices and its rich literary history. It will include selections of prose, poetry, nonfiction, and drama, ranging from the First Nation tales to contemporary works, children’s literature to dystopian fiction. Featured authors will include Canada’s first Nobel Prize for Literature winner, Alice Munro, famed novelist Margaret Atwood, best-selling author and journalist Waubgeshig Rice, among many others. Enjoy selections presented by students and friends of the Missouri Southern chapter of the English honor society Sigma Tau Delta. This event is co-sponsored by Spiva Library; refreshments will be provided.
Meeting time:
3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024
Spiva Library, L-413 (Quiet Room)
Zoom link: https://mssu-edu.zoom.us/j/89305540760
Admission: free
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