Bailey Cove meeting room

Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich
Special guest Dr. William Munson returns for the second half of discussions about the writings and visions of Julian of Norwich, who was the first female English-language author. This book stems from a series of visions she had at age thirty, suggesting the concept of universal salvation in a time when the Black Death was seen as divine retribution for humankind's sins.

So great is the impact of ancient Greek literature on Western culture that even people who have never read Homer's Iliad or The Odyssey know a lot about them. The Trojan Horse, Achilles' heel, the Sirens' call, Scylla and Charybdis--all have entered popular mythology, becoming metaphors for the less heroic situations we face in our own lives.

One of the finest satires ever written. The swift and lively tale follows the absurdly melodramatic adventures of the youthful Candide. As Candide experiences and witnesses calamity upon calamity, he begins to discover that-- contrary to the teachings of his tutor, Dr. Pangloss-- all is not always for the best. Filled with wit, intelligence, and an abundance of dark humor, Candide teaches us that it is possible to challenge blind optimism without losing the will to live and pursue a happy life.

A portrait of the Jazz Age in all of its decadence and excess, Gatsby captured the spirit of the author's generation and earned itself a permanent place in American mythology. Self-made, self-invented millionaire Jay Gatsby embodies some of Fitzgerald's--and his country's--most abiding obsessions: money, ambition, greed, and the promise of new beginnings.

It is Christmas in Camelot and a truly royal feast has been laid out for King Arthur and his Knights. And though there is plenty of good cheer to go around, the festivities hardly begin before a monstrous, axe-wielding, green-skinned Knight barges in. He has come to see the famous Knights of the Round Table and offer them a simple but deadly challenge -a challenge taken on by the brave Sir Gawain -a challenge that will force him to chose between his honor and his life.