Pittsburg State University Alumni & Constituent Relations has partnered with Axe Library to create the Gorilla Alumni Book Club for alumni and friends.

Join our virtual book club to connect with fellow Gorillas while enjoying books authored by PSU alumni. The Gorilla Alumni Book Club connects members with a private forum where all participants can discuss the current book and network with one another. The group will read one book each fall and spring semester, so readers have plenty of time for each book. Participation is free – you just need a copy of the book to enjoy!

How it works:

1. Sign up for the Gorilla Alumni Book Club.
2. Join the Gorilla Alumni Book Club Facebook group. This is where members will participate in weekly discussion questions regarding the books. Members can participate as much or as little as they like.
3. Purchase or borrow the book from your local library. Axe Library will house copies of the selected book.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How often will books be read, what is the time commitment and what are the expectations?

We plan for the group to read one book each fall and spring semester. The books selected cover a range of genres and length. The maximum amount of pages to read in a week is approximately 60 pages, and at times, this number will be much lower. If you have between one to two hours a week to read and participate, you should be fine.

Will there be any in-person meetings for the book club?

The book club will mostly be virtual and online. At the end of some of the books, we plan to welcome members to campus to have an open discussion and enjoy coffee and other beverages. When these occur, we will do our best to live stream the discussion to the Facebook group to keep everyone involved. However, the goal of this group is to allow participation from anywhere you have internet access.

Is there any cost to participate?

Participation is free! You just need a copy of the book to enjoy.

How do I get the books?

Members can purchase the book or borrow the book from local libraries.

How do book club discussions work?

The book club will have a moderator from Axe Library who manages the Facebook group where discussions occur online. The moderator will pose questions to the group and facilitate conversation about topics in the book. Members will be encouraged to post, share, and discuss as well. The Facebook group allows for ongoing conversation and makes it easy for readers to connect with each other online.

What if I am unable to participate in a week's discussion?

Real life happens and we understand that. The benefit of a virtual book club is that you can go back and see what you missed, as well as further add to the discussion. The discussion does not stop, so feel free to contribute at any time! Just be aware if you have not finished reading the weekly portion, there might be spoilers.

I've already signed up. How do I log in?

If you have already signed up, click here to join the Facebook group. 

Upcoming Book:

The Hermit by Gene Bicknell (BS '53, MBA '91)

Previous Book Club Reads:

• Country Hardball by Steve Weddle (MA '94)
• Facing the Music by Jennifer Knapp
• Memoir of the Hawk by James Tate (BA '65)
• Searching for Fire by J. Speer (MST '10)
• Elevations: A Personal Exploration of the Arkansas River by Max McCoy (BA '88)
• A Parting Glass by Tess Banion (BSEd ’73, MSEd ’76)
• Marching Towards Madness: How to Save the Game You Always Loved by John LeBar (BSEd '58) and Allen Paul
• Ghost Sign: Poems from White Buffalo by Al Ortolani (BSEd '74, MA '83, EdS '87), Melissa Fite Johnson (BS '03, MA '05), and JT Knoll (BS '71, MS '76)
• In the Company of Patriots by Virginia Brackett (MA '91)