BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:Book Club: The Wild Iris #1 METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260604T181500 DTEND:20260604T194500 DTSTAMP:20260604T181500 UID:book-club-the-wild-iris-1@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260826T205334 LOCATION: SUMMARY:Book Club: The Wild Iris #1 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Louise Glück’s (1 943 – 2023) collection of poems ‘The Wild Iris’ is complet ely out of the ordinary, deeply personal and surprisingly a ccessible. That cocktail makes it both lauded and popular;& nbsp;as well as a perfect book for our Library Book Club. The mo vement of poems takes place in a garden in bloom; on the thresho ld of spring and summer.

The Library Book Club is everybod y’s book club. Fancy a refreshing read, a change of scenery&nb sp;and a nourishing encounter? Come and read The Wild Iris with us! 

About the book and its author< /strong> 

Louise Glück was a poet from the USA. She rece ived many prizes and several honorary doctorates throughout her life; as well as the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2020. Appearing as her s ixth collection of poetry, The Wild Iris ended up winning the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry of 1993. It is still one of her most popular and critically acclaimed books. 

Glück’s poetry is very personal and uses few poetic techniques, such as rhyme or alliteration: her poems have an almost conversational style. Desi re and nature are among the prevalent themes in her work. 

Practicalities 
  • We’ve pi cked the Carcanet edition of 1996 as a reference point (ISBN 9781857542233), but the E cco edition of 1992 (ISBN 9780880013345) shouldn’t b e all that different. 
  • Each session, we� �ll be discussing 18 poems. During the first sessi on, that’s “The Wild Iris” till “Violets”; for the second session it’s&n bsp;“Witchgrass” till “Vespers” (the 4th  poem with that title); and for the last session “Vespers” (5th) till “The Wh ite Lilies”. Make sure to read these poems beforehand.  
  • This book club season consists of three wee kly sessions on Thursdays 4, 11 and 18 June; you’re not obliged to participate all sessio ns. 
  • 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 also to vote for books in the future, you can join the group chat (W hatsApp). 

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 int roductions, and a brief introduction of the book. 

6:25 p.m. group discussion: we share our experience an d findings reading the book so far. 

7:25 p.m. summarising: we look ahead to the next session and summari se today’s session. 

7:45 p.m. end or socialising: we end the session, although you’re welcome to sti ck around until the building closes. 

About the L ibrary Book Club 

The Library Book Club is for a nyone roaming VU’s campus. We read a few books each year, and& nbsp;try to throw something new into the mix each time; pas sing fiction and non-fiction, poetry and prose, short stories&nb sp;and longer ones along the way. Our librarians select three candida tes for a season and you get to vote. If you’d  like to engage with this group more often, the easiest way to get inv olved is through the group chat (WhatsApp). 

DESCRIPTION: Louise Glück’s (1943 – 2023) collection of poem s ‘The Wild Iris’ is completely out of the ordinary, deeply  personal and surprisingly accessible. That cocktail makes i t both lauded and popular; as well as a perfect book for ou r Library Book Club. The movement of poems takes place in a gard en in bloom; on the threshold of spring and summer. The Library Book Club is everybody’s book club. Fancy a refreshing read, a  ;change of scenery and a nourishing encounter? Come and read&nbs p;The Wild Iris with us! 

About the boo k and its author 

Louise Glück was a poet from the USA. She received many prizes and several honorary doctorates throug hout her life; as well as the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2020. Appe aring as her sixth collection of poetry, The Wild Iris& nbsp;ended up winning the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry of 1993. It is st ill one of her most popular and critically acclaimed books. Glü ck’s poetry is very personal and uses few poetic techniques, such a s rhyme or alliteration: her poems have an almost conversational styl e. Desire and nature are among the prevalent themes in her work.  ;

Practicalities 

  • We’ve  ;picked the Carcanet edition of 1996 as a reference point (ISBN 9781857542233), but th e Ecco edition of 1992 (ISBN 9780880013345) shouldn’t&nbs p;be all that different. 
  • Each session, w e’ll be discussing 18 poems. During the first se ssion, that’s “The Wild Iris” till “Violets”; for the second session it’ s “Witchgrass” till “Vespers” (the 4th poem with that title); and for the last session “Vespers” (5th) till “The White Lilies”. Make sure to read these poems beforeha nd. 
  • This book club season consists of three weekly sessions on Thursdays 4, 11 and 18 June; you’re not obliged to participate all ses sions. 
  • The location is the Library Loung e, at the entry of the University Library in the Main Buildi ng (HG-01A01). 
  • There’s no need to sign up. If you’d like to receive updates  and also 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 introducti ons, and a brief introduction of the book. 6:25 p.m. group discussion: we share our experience and findings rea ding the book so far. 7:25 p.m. summarisin g: 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 < /h3>The Library Book Club is for anyone roaming VU’s campus. We rea d a few books each year, and try to throw something new int o the mix each time; passing fiction and non-fiction, poetr y and prose, short stories and longer ones along the way. O ur 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 (WhatsAp p).  END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR