Class Description
This reading group is for anyone who cherishes Toni Morrison's work, or who is curious about exploring her literary landscapes for the first time. Over the course of six weeks, we will read two of her novels, Tar Baby and Sula. These books explore themes of Black femme friendship, romance, freedom, pleasure, and self-acceptance, and together they offer a rich lens into Morrison’s exploration of identity, desire, and community.
Each week, we will engage in close readings, paying attention not only to plot and character but also to Morrison’s masterful use of language, imagery, and structure. Participants are encouraged to share their interpretations, reactions, and questions in a supportive and interactive environment. Discussions will move beyond the page to consider how Morrison’s themes resonate today, allowing us to reflect on contemporary experiences of love, autonomy, and connection.
By the end of the series, participants will have gained a deeper appreciation for Morrison’s literary craft, a more nuanced understanding of the themes she examines, and a stronger sense of how literature can illuminate the complexities of human relationships. Whether you are revisiting familiar works or encountering them for the first time, the group offers a space to read, think, and discuss together in thoughtful and meaningful ways.
Writing Roadmap: We've created a simple, goal-based writing roadmap to help you find the perfect GrubStreet course for your writing needs.
Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.
For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. After registering, a yellow Resources tab will appear in this section containing a link to join class. Please note that you will need to be logged into view the Resources tab.
Zoom Participation:
In our experience, the intimate nature of a writing workshop benefits from on-camera participation. Students are of course welcome to turn their camera off whenever they need to, but it is a community norm for cameras to be on most of the time. You can learn more about using Zoom here.
Zoom Accessibility:
You can enable closed captioning at any time during the meeting by clicking the CC button at the bottom of the screen. If you'd like to access the transcript after class, please make sure to let your instructor ahead of time that you'd like a copy.