Cornell Club of Maryland
(CCMD)
Big Red Bookcase
Coordinator | Virtual in Maryland
October 2024 Onwards
Key Responsibilities: Book Selection, Discussion Topic Preparation and Facilitation, Author Liaison, Attendance Reporting
Who We Are
We are alumni of Cornell University (and friends and family) who live in the state of Maryland and are happiest when we’re reading! We span quite a few backgrounds, and we range in age, but that poses no challenge as we get together virtually each quarter to discuss a novel authored by another of Cornell’s very own alumni.
We are a curious bunch. Our meetings are pepper with questions surrounding the chosen novel. The novels’ authors consistently join us virtually, so these questions vary in their goal from sparking conversation among fellow attendees to sourcing some behind-the-scenes clarity directly from the author. To accommodate the full spectrum of availability, these questions are accepted both beforehand and spontaneously, during our meeting on Zoom.
We are democratic. Regular participants of Big Red Bookcase are surveyed on the upcoming quarter’s read and have continuous avenues of voicing their interests and sharing feedback. Readers are encouraged to nominate a specific title, likely featured on The Cornellians, or a wider genre. We’re reading Historical Fiction next!
“These are great questions.
Making me realize I've never discussed Vamp in a serious manner.”
— James Magruder, Author of Vamp Until Ready
What We’ve Read
CCMD members pored over the following titles during the first year of my service as Bookcase Coordinator. We were joined by the author in each discussion!
Vamp Until Ready by James Magruder, Cornell Class of 1982
Vamp Until Ready follows a group of lovable protagonists as they navigate Ithaca, The Commons, and the theater scene. It focuses on transformative events —past and present— in each character’s life that shape them into who they grow into.
The Edge of Water by Olufunke Grace Bankole, Cornell Class of 2001
The Edge of Water follows multiple generations of women as they experience life in worlds that are varying degrees of kind to women. It also zooms in on a few key men in each of the women’s lives. Hurricane Katrina is central to the story.
Love, Me by Jessica Saunders, Cornell Class of 2003
A lawyer and mother of two, Rachel Miller, unwillingly rewinds the clock after racy photos and letters to and from her now-famous high school boyfriend are leaked. Rachel is forced to evaluate the state of her marriage, her relationships more widely, and her career.
The Tiger’s Wife by Téa Obreht, Cornell MFA Class of 2009
Set in an unnamed Balkan country, The Tiger’s Wife offers a glimpse into young doctor Natalia’s search for answers in the aftermath of her grandfather’s mysterious death, amidst floating superstitions, stories of “the deathless man,” and secrets that line the very fabric of her routine.
In 2024, prior to the above, CCMD indulged itself in pages of:
The Apology by Jimin Han, Cornell Class of 1988
Quest for Kimchi by Raquel Look, Cornell Class of 2003
How to Be Eaten by Maria Adelman, Cornell Class of 2007
Dashed by Amanda Quain, Cornell Class of 2013