By Abigail Koenig Starting in the 2026 spring semester, there is a new club titled Books Beyond Borders (BBB) formed with the aim of exposing its members to more diverse literature from across the world and inspire thoughtful conversation about current issues. The club functions as an advanced book club that will meet to not only discuss the last…
Tag: Books
“The Butterfly Mosque” to be upcoming summer read
This summer, hundreds of incoming freshmen will read the memoir of a young American woman and hear her questions about faith, following her brave journey to Egypt, where she decided to teach after college. “Doesn’t that sound like a Cobber?” said Dr. Dawn Duncan, English professor and chair of the Summer Book Read Committee. Duncan…
English professor publishes 11th book
English professor and travel writer W. Scott Olsen will launch his 11th book, “A Moment With Strangers,” a book about the apparent — but brief — impact of people we meet. Olsen said that whether in the local grocery store or an English market, strangers can surprise. “Every now and then we wind up in a…
Slomski and Babine dabble in publishing politics
Karen Babine and Heather A. Slomski of the English Department are well-versed in publishing politics and the writing process. Babine is currently completing her nonfiction collection called Water and What We Know and Slomski recently released her book of short stories titled The Lovers Set Down Their Spoons. According to Babine, her book is a…
Concordia grad inspires students
Home, love and faith. Three small words that hold an infinite amount of meaning. Three small words that Melanie Hoffert explores at length in her intricately crafted nonfiction book “Prairie Silence.” “Prairie Silence,” which was released earlier this month, is an honest look at life on the prairie of North Dakota – how it shapes…
PACODES comes back: Students revive inactive club to send books to Sudanese communities
After two years of remaining inactive, Cobbers for Panyijiar Community Development Services is making a comeback. Roy Hammerling, the group’s faculty advisor, said the students have shown “incredible creativity and passion for (this group).” PACODES is an official North Dakota nonprofit organization aimed to aid and improve the education, health, humanitarian aid, agriculture, faith and…
E-books: A threat to democracy?
When Amazon originally released the Kindle in 2007, its appearance (and price) was much different than today’s model. It was clunky. The first Kindle looked and operated more like a fun prototype, and less like a serious reading device. Over the past few years, however, the device (and its competitors, like the Nook from Barnes…
Sigurd Offers Insight Into Nature
There are some people who believe Minnesota has only two—albeit unequally distributed—seasons: hot and humid summer and nostril-freezing winter. But here in the Red River Valley, we acknowledge two short-lived bridges to those unpleasant times: flood season and the wonderful, picturesque autumn. As we transition from the dog-days to the color changes of leaves, marked…
Writers To Visit Campus
The 2011 Writer’s Festival will begin next Wednesday, Oct. 5 when three award-winning writers from the Twin Cities area visit campus classrooms. Poet Tim Nolan, author of “The Sound of It,” fiction writer Peter Geye, author of “Safe from the Sea,” and Star Tribune senior book editor Laurie Hertzel will spend three days working with…
Short Stories Provide Quick Entertainment
With many textbook and Moodle assignments throughout the week, Concordia students often complain about not having ample time for leisure reading. During the semester it is nearly impossible to read something non-class related. Over the weekend some are able to start reading a novel, but it’s hard to complete by Sunday night, when packed schedules resume….