We're excited to announce the launch of the Nazareth College Alumni Book Club! In this online community, alumni can connect with each other to read and discuss books on a range of topics. There is no cost to participate -- all you'll need to do is get a copy of the book and log in to connect with fellow classmates.
How it Works:
The book club will connect through a private online forum where members can discuss the current book and network with each other. The group will spend approximately 2 months on each book, so you'll have plenty of time to read.
Why Should You Join?:
1. An opportunity to connect and reconnect with your peers and classmates.
2. Engage in a lifelong learning community.
3. Reading is great!
Frequently Asked Questions
How often will books be read, what is the time commitment, and what are the expectations?
We will spend about 2 months on each book. We will read lifelong learning, personal growth, novels, and other books that take an average of nine hours to read cover to cover. If you have between 1 and 2 hours a week to read, you can make it happen!
Will there be any in-person meetings for the book club?
No, the book club will be entirely online. You can participate anywhere you have internet access and on days and times that are convenient for you.
Is there any cost to participate?
Participation in the book club is FREE! Sign up here.
How do I get the books?
Participants can get books in their preferred format at their local library or purchase them from their preferred retailer.
How do book club discussions work?
The book club will be moderated by a PBC Guru moderator who manages the forum and provides additional content related to the book. The moderator will pose questions to the group, share relevant articles and facilitate conversation about topics in the book.
Members will be encouraged to post and share as well. This format allows for ongoing conversation and makes it easy for readers to connect with each other through the forum.
Can I join anytime?
You can! It's recommended that you start with the beginning of each new book, but feel free to catch up and follow along with the discussion on the book in progress.
You can also choose to dip in and out of the club if you like this book, but the next isn't your cup of tea. You're always welcome to follow along or rejoin the discussion at any time.
Sign up here.
How do I make a forum profile?
We're using a private forum to host the virtual book club so it's easy to connect with fellow alumni. During our sign-up process, you will enter the information to auto-generate your free profile. After you complete the sign up, we'll send you a link to the forum and you can begin to post right away! To help us create a welcoming and connected community, add your photo to your profile and introduce yourself in the 'Introductions' thread.
How do I change my photo and introduce myself?
Create your online forum profile by clicking on the circle icon in the top right corner of the page, then clicking on the gear. Add your photo and names. Introduce yourself in the comments of the Introductions thread. Tell us a bit about who you are, when you graduated, what kinds of books you like to read, and your hopes for our book club. Tell us a fun fact if you're up for it!
What is a discussion leader?
Discussion leaders are book club members who help initiate and advance our weekly discussions.
How do I become a discussion leader?
Each time we begin a new reading period, you will receive an email asking if you'd like to become/continue being a discussion leader for our new book club selection. If you are interested in being a discussion leader but do not have the time during a call for volunteers, you can always sign up to be a discussion leader for a future reading period.
What are the expectations of discussion leaders?
The time commitment for being a discussion leader is roughly 10-15 minutes per week. As a discussion leader, we ask that you aim to:
- Post at least one comment a week in our discussion
- Reply to fellow book club members' posts
- Ask follow up questions to fellow book club members' posts
- Connect different threads of discussion together, in order to create a more cohesive conversation
How do I comment in the forum?
Click on the picture of the topic or post you'd like to comment on. Click on the Reply button, type in your response, and hit reply to send.
What exactly is PBC Guru and what do they have to do with Naz's Alumni Book Club?
Professional Book Club (PBC) Guru is a book club management company that partners with businesses, alumni associations, libraries, and professional societies. Check out their website, http://www.pbc.guru, to learn more.
2021-2022 Reading Periods
- May 27 - July 29, 2021
- August 5 - October 7, 2021
- October 14 - December 16, 2021
- January 6 - March 10, 2022
- March 17 - May 20, 2022
Sign Up!
Join our Nazareth alumni community book club!
This Month's Pick!
Overview: In a Philadelphia neighborhood rocked by the opioid crisis, two once-inseparable sisters find themselves at odds. One, Kacey, lives on the streets in the vise of addiction. The other, Mickey, walks those same blocks on her police beat. They don't speak anymore, but Mickey never stops worrying about her sibling.
Then Kacey disappears, suddenly, at the same time that a mysterious string of murders begins in Mickey's district, and Mickey becomes dangerously obsessed with finding the culprit--and her sister--before it's too late.
Alternating its present-day mystery with the story of the sisters' childhood and adolescence, Long Bright River is at once heart-pounding and heart-wrenching: a gripping suspense novel that is also a moving story of sisters, addiction, and the formidable ties that persist between place, family, and fate.
Praise for Long Bright River
- ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEAR
- NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY NPR, PARADE, REAL SIMPLE, and BUZZFEED
- AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
- A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK
