Readers and book clubs alike have a tendency of sticking to their loved genres. But why stick with ‘genre’? Join the Library Book Club in reading Chris Kraus’ genre bending ‘I Love Dick’. Are we dealing here with fiction or autobiography; with memoir or critical theory; with a confessional or with philosophy? None. We’re dealing with a must-read.
About the book and its author
Chris Kraus (1955) is a multiplicity of things, from filmmaker and critic to performance artist and writer. She is by all means genre bending in her writing, blending the theoretical and personal. Even lines between fiction and autobiography, and between critical theory and memoir are blended in novel of letters from 1997: I Love Dick.
Although reception of the book was cold when it first appeared, over the course of three decades the title has cemented itself as required reading in feminist and literary scenes. The love letters to the addressed ‘Dick’ aren’t just about main character Chris’ infatuation and unfold in a philosophical reflection that Kraus herself called ‘lonely girl phenomenology’.
Sessions and reading material
This book club season consists of three weekly sessions on Thursdays 12, 19 and 26 November. Also, there’s a creative session scheduled on 5 January (2027). If you join, you’re not obliged to participate in all sessions. The reading material for each session is as follows:
- Thursday 12 November, 6:15 till 7:45 p.m., read part 1 of the book, titled “Scenes from a Marriage.” In our edition (Serpent’s Tail, 2016), this is pages 1 – 102.
- Thursday 19 November, 6:15 till 7:45 p.m., read the first three chapters of part 2, titled “Every Letter is a Love Letter,” “Route 126” and “The Exegesis.” This is pages 103 – 169.
- Thursday 26 November, 6:15 till 7:45 p.m., read the last five chapters the book, starting with “Kike Art.” This is pages 170 – 245.
The creative session takes place on Tuesday 5 January 2027 from 5:00 till 8:00 p.m. Details and (potential) preparation is discussed during prior sessions.
Other practicalities
- We’ve picked the Serpent’s Tail edition of 2016 as a reference point (ISBN 9781781256480), so page numbers refer to that edition.
- The location is the Library Lounge, at the entry of the University Library in the Main Building (HG-01A01).
- There’s no need to sign up. If you’d like to receive updates and to vote for books in the future, you can join the group chat (WhatsApp).
Schedule
5:30 p.m.: walk-in.
You’re welcome to come in early, to bridge time or to bring and have dinner.
6:15 p.m.: opening.
We kick off with a round of introductions, and a brief introduction of the book.
6:25 p.m.: group discussion.
We share our experience and findings reading the book so far.
7:25 p.m.: summarising.
We look ahead to the next session and summarise today’s session.
7:45 p.m.: end or socialising.
We end the session, although you’re welcome to stick around until the building closes.
About the Library Book Club
The Library Book Club is for anyone roaming VU’s campus. We read a few books each year, and try to throw something new into the mix each time; passing fiction and non-fiction, poetry and prose, short stories and longer ones along the way. Our librarians select three candidates for a season and you get to vote. If you’d like to engage with this group more often, the easiest way to get involved is through the group chat (WhatsApp). Information on future sessions can be found on our VU webpage.