Living Writers

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Since 1980, Living Writers has been a for-credit, on-campus course for 50+ undergraduates. Since 2010, it has also been a self-paced, not-for-credit program for alumni, parents, and friends of Colgate. A passion for reading is the only prerequisite.

This fall, we’ve picked 10 life-changing works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry by 10 acclaimed writers. We rarely curate the list around a particular question or theme — instead preferring to let one burble to the surface as we read. This year, the phrase “architecture of longing”— coined by Hanif Abdurraqib, winner of a MacArthur “genius” award and author of There’s Always This Year — seems especially resonant. Everyone we've encountered in these pages is hankering after something, whether it's community, connection, freedom, safety, education, beauty, happiness, transcendence, or something else.

Not sure how Living Writers works? At our Zoom kickoff, we heard from 10 people—faculty, staff, students, Living Writers stalwarts—each of whom championed one or more of the books on our list. We hope to post a recording of that session soon. Meanwhile, mark your calendars for our Zoom retrospective on the whole fall series. It will be Monday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m.

Register for Zoom Retrospective

2024 Living Writers Book List 

September 5

The Moon That Turns You Back Hala Alyan

Hala Alyan
The Moon That Turns You Back

 

September 12

There's Always Next Year Hanif Abdurraqib

Hanif Abdurraqib
There’s Always This Year

September 19

James Percival Everett

Percival Everett
James

 

September 26

Cairn Peggy Shucker

Peggy Shumaker
Cairn

October 3

Seek You Kristen Radtke

Kristen Radtke
Seek You

 

October 17

Up Home Ruth Simmons

Ruth J. Simmons
Up Home

October 24

The Tree Doctor Marie Mutsuki Mockett
Marie Mutsuki Mockett
The Tree Doctor

 

October 31

Fruit of the Drunken Tree Ingrid Rojas Contreras
Ingrid Rojas Contreras
Fruit of the Drunken Tree

 

November 7

Rainbow, Rainbow Lydia Conklin
Lydia Conklin
Rainbow, Rainbow

November 14

Royal Ghosts Samrat Upadhyay
Samrat Upadhyay
The Royal Ghosts

 

I appreciate that my college is creating this opportunity for me to engage intellectually with prominent writers, along with a Colgate professor and other students of all ages.

Goldie Blumenstyk ’79, senior writer, Chronicle of Higher Education
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Questions?

Contact livingwriters@colgate.edu

Book Copies

Living Writers books can be purchased from the Colgate Bookstore. Copies are also available at the Colgate University and Hamilton village libraries.

Upcoming Events

Living Writers: Lydi Conklin
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Living Writers: Samrat Upadhyay
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View all Living Writers events

Living Writers is hosted by the Department of English and Creative Writing with generous support from the Olive B. O'Connor bequest as well as the Office of the President, and the Office of the Provost and Dean of Faculty. 

Living Writers co-sponsors in 2024 include the Poetry Series; the Sio Chair in Diversity and Community; Colgate Men's Basketball; the Sylvia Ellins Fund; Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies; Peace and Conflict Studies; Africana and Latin American Studies; Asian Studies; LGBTQ Studies; and the departments of Art, Computer Science, and Educational Studies.

Living Writers is made possible every year with support from the Office of University Communications and from ITS.