Literature, Writing, and Language   

From the corridors of power to the pages of history, Pulitzer Prize-winner Doris Kearns Goodwin's 2024 "An Unfinished Love Story" blends memoir with historical insight. Both working for Presidents, she and her husband, Richard Goodwin, witnessed the history of the 60s and helped shape it. After 50 years, they share insider perspectives and reflections. In the words of "America's Historian," meet JFK, LBJ, RFK, and MLK up close. Expect surprises!

But this isn’t a typical history class. We lived the 60s! Using Goodwin’s book as a spark, we’ll reflect on our own experiences—capturing them in quick writes, a gazillion prompts provided—sharing voluntarily.

We aim to explore our own experiences. How did events shape our lives, our country, our culture? What were our successes, our mistakes? What did we learn to guide us into the future? We’re asking YOU!

For those who enjoy active participation and memories of the 60s.

Required: An Unfinished Love Story by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Note: The first class is scheduled 1 pm - 3:30 pm.  Remaining classes are 1 pm - 3 pm.

This is the story of a young woman and her life altering-decision after tragedy strikes her family's peach farm leading to an epic adventure of love, loss and survival. As seasons flow and years pass, Victoria Nash finds in the natural world the strength and meaning that sets her on a quest to regain all that she has lost. Inspired by true events, this novel is the story of a deeply held love amid hardship, but also of finding resilience, friendship, and finally a home where the peaches grow once again.

Shelley Read's stunning historic novel takes us into mid-20th century life in Western Colorado where the Gunnison River swallows towns, ranches and farms in the creation of the Blue Mesa Reservoir.

Join Carol and Bob Steele for six weekly discussions about this intriguing, well-written novel that has in just two years been translated into over 34 different languages and sold over a million copies.

Book:  Go As A River by Shelley Read

"I Cheerfully Refuse" by Leif Enger, is a novel set in a not-too-distant future. The story follows Rainy, a grief-stricken man who sets sail on Lake Superior against the background of a dystopian future — America wrecked by climate change, political and economic division, and more. Despite the bleakness of the setting, the novel also offers a message of hope and resilience, suggesting that even in the darkest of times, it is possible to find beauty, kindness, and meaning. We approach reading as discovery in a reading community; therefore, some of the reading is done in class so that, together, we encounter the text as a group. We use an approach called reader response theory, where meaning is created by the reader. For this reason, we encourage discussion and analysis as an ongoing activity during the reading. For this reason, PLEASE DO NOT START READING THE BOOK BEFORE CLASS BEGINS. As a general rule, once classes begin, we spend the first half discussing the previous reading. The last half is devoted to taking turns reading aloud and discussing what we have read. Reading is always voluntary.

Required: Please purchase I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger, before class begins.

Did you know that Ray Bradbury, author of “Fahrenheit 451” and “Dandelion Wine”, was also a prolific short story writer? This class will explore the literary breadth of Ray Bradbury’s work.

What do Bradbury’s stories tell us reveal about life in small-town or big-city America? Who are we as a people? Do we ever learn the lessons the universe is so desperate to teach us? Bradbury knows and he brings the harsh reality of humanity home.

This class will explore Ray Bradbury’s magical youth and learn about the challenges of becoming a writer. We will read excerpts from his fictional memoir, “Dandelion Wine”, and watch videos of his short stories after reading them. His life defined his talent and his imagination threw open doors to both the past and the future.

The class will rely on three main concepts: readings, videos, and discussion.

Recommended: Any of Bradbury Short Story Collections

This course will include speaking, reading, and writing. The primary objective is to teach enough vocabulary and expressions that participants can begin to speak and understand others who speak Spanish. We will build a community of safety together, where everyone is praised for trying to communicate, and there is no room for criticism. It isn't easy to learn another language, so everyone needs to have patience with themselves and each other. The book will be used at each class session. There will be many opportunities for practice, questions, and explanations of verb usage and sentence formation. We can laugh together while we all make mistakes!

Guided expressive writing has been proven to reduce stress, enhance social relationships, and improve academic performance. While these outcomes may not surprise you, expressive writing has also been shown to improve lung function among asthma patients, reduce pain for people with rheumatoid arthritis, and reduce sleep disturbances, among a host of other wellness outcomes.

Over four sessions, you’ll dive into current research on writing and wellbeing, learning how writing practices—such as journaling, reflective writing, and expressive storytelling—can enhance your wellness. Guided by an experienced writing professor, you’ll experiment with these techniques in a supportive environment and develop a personalized wellness writing routine.

The course design emphasizes the importance of community wellness. By sharing stories and reflections with classmates, you’ll connect with others, fostering compassion and collective wellbeing. Together, we’ll explore the healing power of shared experiences and build a supportive and thriving community.

Have a Notebook handy

Place is sometimes described as an additional character in novels, especially when an author develops a collection of characters in a specific location throughout a continuing series. "Mysterious Places" encourages armchair travel while exploring various mystery series - in this case, places where the character(s) are coming from, going to, discovering anew, or otherwise in transition from one to another. We'll explore authors who have set their stories firmly in a place, reflecting the geography, culture, and personal relationships that inform means, motive, and opportunity for our reading and detecting pleasure.

The first thing high school kids want to know when they’re taking a foreign language is: What are the dirty words? “Language evolves with time, and so does what we consider profane or unspeakable,” says the author of our text. We will be looking at perhaps the nine most offensive words in the English language; the evolution of obscenities, curses, cussing, slurs, why we use them and how they become blasphemous. We will be examining the historical, sociological, political, religious and linguistic effects that create changes in the meaning of these words. Note: If you feel like you will be uncomfortable saying these words aloud in class, this is probably not the course for you.

Required: Nine Nasty Words by John McWhorter, Avery - an imprint of Penguin Random House, New York 2021 Random

Short stories are fun and they're easy to write. The approach that Facilitator Edward Ford uses is known as writing from life. A writer does not make up a story and then try to make it seem real. Rather a writer writes about everyday life and tries to make it seem magical. If a student can write a story about strolling down the sidewalk, or riding a bus, then the student can write about anything and there will be no end to their stories. Each class, students will write two stories about their own lives and then read them to each other. Facilitator Ford will share some of his stories, as well. We will get to know each other very well.

Required: Pen and paper

Recommended: Notes in response to weekly prompts

Stories have always been a way of preserving history. Today we still need stories. There are stories inside all of us. Some are funny, some not so much. These stories are often waiting to come out. Sometimes they just need a little help. This class will feature examples of stories well told. You may remember stories told by your grandparents or other adults. We will review good stories and discuss what makes them memorable.

You will be invited to share a story – your own or just one you remember. Small groups can help us share our stories informally.

We will laugh, we may cry, but we will surely learn how to tell a good story. Whether your target is a grandchild, a partner, or a friend, we can make our stories better with a little help. So, don’t keep your stories locked inside. Let this class help you get them out.

Suggested reading: Telling Your Own Stories by Donald Davis

Seven Colorado Authors League writers will be sharing their unique paths to becoming published in this fascinating speakers series. Learn about their books, their techniques, their successes and their failures. Genres include science fiction, historic fiction, historic non-fiction, poetry, memoir and mystery. There will be ample time for Q&A and an optional writing exercise. See Author information in Jack's bio.

The Bible is considered the foundation document of Western thought and is often taken as absolute truth. Modern scholarship views the Hebrew Bible as an anthology that expresses diverse ideas through stories rich in ambiguity. Join us to see if you agree.

This class will take a fresh look at the Hebrew Bible. By closely examining biblical narrative, we are challenged regarding motive, moral character, and psychology. Robert Alter gives us tools to address those challenges in “The Art of Biblical Narration” (not required). We will dig deep into selected material alongside 30-minute lectures from Professor Amy Jill Levine (The Old Testament - a Great Courses series). She is a widely sought-after speaker who has delivered talks on biblical subjects and issues to academic and non-academic audiences. Many of her talks are available via YouTube. Each week, we will watch two lectures and struggle with some selected text.

This course explores how a deeper understanding of emotions can enhance communication and strengthen relationships. Drawing on Brené Brown’s "Atlas of the Heart," participants will learn to identify, name, and describe complex emotional experiences in order to communicate better with others. We will be reading "Atlas of the Heart" together, using it as a foundation for reflective exercises and discussions to develop emotional literacy that fosters authentic connection in both personal and professional settings. By cultivating emotional awareness, participants will gain the skills to communicate more clearly and compassionately, strengthening their connections with others.

Required Reading: Atlas of the Heart

Mrs. Dalloway (1925), recounts one June day in the life of a wealthy London woman. As she makes preparations for her party, Clarissa’s memories and reflections intersect with her actions and with the plight of a WWI soldier. Virginia Woolf (1882-1941), an innovative novelist, used “stream of consciousness” as a way to access the inner life of her characters and to consider the social changes of the 1920s.

Woolf and her sister, Vanessa Bell, an artist, gathered around them a group of friends in the north London neighborhood of Bloomsbury. This group included some of the great intellectuals of the early 20th century, including John Maynard Keynes, Duncan Grant, T.S. Eliot, Leonard Woolf, E.M. Forster, and Lytton Strachey. Their philosophy valued knowledge, freedom, progress, and beauty, as they broke from the values and restrictions of their Victorian childhoods.

Join us as we read Mrs. Dalloway and explore Bloomsbury!

Required text: Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf, Penguin Classics, ISBN 978-0-241-37194-7, or equivalent.