[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/28-stories.jpg” caption=”28 stories of AIDS in Africa by Stephanie Nolen is the Daily News Summer Book Club’s book of the month for June. “]28 Stories of AIDS in Africa by journalist Stephanie Nolen has been featured on both the Globe & Mail and Maclean's bestseller lists for the past several weeks. Now it has been selected to launch the first annual Daily News Summer Book Club, which starts June 1.

“Everyone loves reading during the summer, and a book club is a great way to create a sense of community on campus, especially during the summer months when the population wanes,” said Susan Bubak, editor of the Daily News.

The book club will work like this: Three McMaster academics will each suggest a book for June, July and August. At the end of each month, participants will join a discussion lead by the academic who selected the book. (Times and locations will be announced closer to the date.) All three books are available at Titles.

Helene Strauss, assistant professor of English and Cultural Studies, chose June's book, 28 Stories of AIDS in Africa, which examines the devastating impact of AIDS in Africa through personal stories.

“Stephanie Nolen offers an outsider's perspective, yet she made a very sincere effort to understand the complexity of each person's experience with the disease, and of the political and historical realities that shape the choices currently available to those battling the pandemic,” explains Strauss, a native of South Africa, who teaches postcolonial studies. “I think this is an important text to read because it details the enormous human and emotional cost of the AIDS crisis in Africa and draws the attention of readers to their responsibility in confronting the crisis.”

Strauss will lead a discussion about the book on June 28.

For the month of July, university librarian Jeff Trzeciak has chosen Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Corey Doctorow.

“I chose Corey Doctorow's Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom because I am a science fiction fan first and foremost, and because he's a Canadian author,” says Trzeciak. “Doctorow publishes under the Creative Commons license, which makes his work freely available in any language, which I think is really interesting. His work isn't way-out sci-fi, but it gives us a glimpse into the possible future.”

Trzeciak's book club discussion will take place July 26.

August's book will be Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel, chosen by Kathy Garay, archivist and adjunct professor of history.

“At the heart of this book is a collection of letters to Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) from his eldest daughter, a cloistered nun, who took the name Sister Maria Celeste when she entered a convent near Florence at the age of 13,” Garay explains. “Galileo's struggle to avoid excommunication while refusing to deny the evidence revealed by his telescopes is brought vividly to life. Dava Sobel (also author of another brilliant book called Longitude) has expertly translated the letters and woven them into a narrative tapestry which draws the reader into the oppositional worlds of scientific discovery and the powerful Catholic Church.”

Garay's book club discussion is scheduled for August 30.

For any inquiries, please contact Christine MacLean at 905-525-9140 ext. 23659 or by e-mail at maclec3@mcmaster.ca.