A king in Denmark is murdered and his surviving son is haunted by his ghost. A fictional town where every year, an inhabitant is chosen to be stoned to death via a lottery system. A student in St. Petersburg murders an exploitative pawnbroker and is racked with paranoia afterward. If you recognized these iconic stories based on my summaries, the Cornell Literary Society is the perfect activity to spend your Wednesday evenings! And even if you did not recognize them, the Literary Society is still the place for you! Our only prerequisite is to love reading.

I joined the Cornell Literary Society last fall. A timid transfer sophomore, I had found myself in a new academic and social environment. Every week, it seemed, came with a new set of challenges. However, every week for one hour, I could retreat into the world of stories and novellas I so loved. I could talk about my favorite authors and short stories with people who shared my enthusiasm, and feel my voice heard as the club voted on my suggestions for short stories to cover in later meetings. In between club meetings, we had socials and outings to local plays and literature-themed concerts. Now Co - President of the Literary Society, I hope to continue this legacy of genuine excitement for literature. In a place as competitive and fast-paced as Cornell, the literary society is an opportunity for all students to pause, read, and chat about the ideas and stories that shape us.

But I Have A Prior Commitment During Lit Soc Meetings!

Never fear! If you cannot regularly attend our weekly meetings (every Wednesday from 5 - 6 pm in Goldwin Smith Hall), you only need to attend two meetings a month to be considered an active member. And attending meetings is not the only way to be a part of Lit Soc; nothing makes me happier than when students email me, letting me know they unfortunately cannot attend this week’s meeting, but suggest future short stories to read and discuss. We also have a discord server that lists all upcoming meetings and fun events.

Why Would I Join Lit Soc? I Read Enough Already in my Classes!

Because reading is awesome, duh. Jokes aside, Lit Soc is a chance to read what you want, not only what your professors tell you to. Are you a horror lit fan? Romance? Poetry? Anything and everything goes in Lit Soc, just suggest it, and we will vote on it! On busy weeks nearing finals and midterm periods, we often read shorter stories, some as brief as 1-2 pages. On longer breaks or lighter periods in the semester, we may decide to read longer novellas. If there is a novel you have been meaning to read, Lit Soc has a place for you too! We have smaller book clubs within the club, and anyone with a vested interest can lead one. Lit Soc is also an opportunity to meet fellow book lovers from diverse majors (for example, I am a Biology and Society major!). Also, we have snacks!

Cornell Literary Society is a small but mighty student organization, and I cannot wait to see you (yes, you) at our meetings, every Wednesday at 5 pm, GSH! To join the email list, sign up on our website.