Join co-hosts Anne Moore and Chris Stacey for an innovative, exciting, and passionate approach to world literature. We select a country and pick three books over the course of three months: one contemporary, one non-fiction, and one classic. Our current country is China & The Cultural Revolution. For our second meeting we discuss the contemporary selection The Vagrants by Yiyun Li. In May 2026 Yiyun Li gives three presentations at the Berlin Family Lectures at the University of Chicago. Our choice is in honor of her accomplishments.

Morning dawns on the provincial city of Muddy River. A young woman, Gu Shan, a bold spirit and a follower of Chairman Mao, has renounced her faith in Communism. Now a political prisoner, she is to be executed for her dissent. Her distraught mother, determined to follow the custom of burning her only child’s clothing to ease her journey into the next world, is about to make another bold decision. Shan’s father, Teacher Gu, who has already, in his heart and mind, buried his rebellious daughter, begins to retreat into memories. Neither of them imagines that their daughter’s death will have profound and far-reaching effects, in Muddy River and beyond.

We hope to see you in March to help us create a community you’ll find inviting, fun, engaging and a place to sustain meaningful friendships.

Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026

Time: 6:00PM Central

Location: Private room at a club on Michigan Avenue. Details after signing up.

Event Cap at 10 People: There are 2 spaces open as of 2/28/26.

Reviews

“She bridges our world to the Chinese world with a mind that is incredibly supple and subtle.” —W Magazine

“A Balzacian look at one community’s suppressed loves and betrayals.”—Vogue

“A sweeping novel of struggle, survival, and love in the time of oppression. . . . [an] illuminating, morally complex, and symphonic novel.”—O Magazine

Note: A solid history of the Cultural Revolution is Mao’s Last Revolution by Roderick MacFarquhar and Michael Schoenhals,, In addition, one might consider reading these two short books that can provide a content for Chinese history and literature: Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction by Daniel K. Gardner and Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction (2nd edn) by Damien Keown.

Photo Credit: Amazon, Promotional Material, Public Domain