The final Veterans Book Club meeting of the semester will be Thursday April 13 at 5:30 in room 301 of the library and on Zoom.
Since this meeting is near the end of the semester, the book is a bit lighter and shorter than some of the other selections. Mary Roach is a popular, and very funny best-selling science writer. In Grunt she explores technologies coming from military research that not only keep soldiers safer and healthier but also have tremendous potential for civilian applications.
Please consider joining us for a lively discussion and to learn about some incredible science. The Veterans Book Club is open to everyone – you don’t need to be a veteran to participate. Contact Rhonda Culbertson, rculbert@iusb.edu with questions, or for a free copy of the book
Bhagwati dropped out of an Ivy League graduate program to join the Marines, much to the dismay of her strict immigrant parents. As a bisexual woman of color in the military she faced misogyny, racism, homophobia and sexual violence. However, she prevailed and was honorably discharged after five years. After her military service, she helped found the Service Women’s Action Network, which advocates for women who suffer sexual assault in the military and also successfully lobbied Congress to expand the participation of women in combat roles.
Dr. Betsy Lucal, professor of sociology and gender studies, will be facilitating our conversation.
All are welcome. You do not have to be a veteran to participate, only curious about the role of war and the military in our society. Please contact Rhonda Culbertson, (rculbert@iusb.edu) with questions or for a copy of the book.
This is the gripping story of the Easy Company, 101st Airborne Division in WWII. This unit parachuted into France early on D-Day and captured Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden in addition to many other against-the-odds assignments. The author, Steven E. Ambrose, wrote many best-selling works of 20th century American History. Band of Brothers was based on his interviews with surviving veterans and ranked among his favorite projects. The book was made into the acclaimed and star-studded HBO miniseries.
Dr. Jonathan Nashel, an engaging speaker from the IUSB history department, will be leading the discussion.
For more information, the Zoom link or a copy of the book, please contact Rhonda Culbertson rculbert@iusb.edu. Everyone is welcome, you do not need to be a veteran to participate.
The Sympathizer won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Literature and was hailed as a new classic war novel joining the ranks of The Things They Carried and Slaughterhouse 5.
This genre-bending, beautifully written, debut novel is sure to inspire interesting discussion. It chronicles the story of a Vietnamese communist double agent who emigrates to the United States where he continues his spying and provides a unique lens on American culture. The novel includes elements of satire, espionage, social criticism, history, philosophy and politics. By invoking several modern writers, including Philip Roth and Ralph Ellison, the author brings added depth and richness to the text. The story brilliantly brings to life a particular place and time but also evokes current events. The description of the fall of Saigon resonates deeply with the chaos surrounding the recent U.S. departure from Afghanistan.
The author, Viet Thanh Nguyen, was born in Vietnam and came to the United States with his family as a refugee in 1975. He currently serves as the Aerol Arnold Professor of English and American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California and is a recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim and MacArthur foundations.
Dr. Alfred Guillaume, emeritus professor of French and a Vietnam veteran, will lead the discussion on November 9. He is certain to provide us with a fascinating evening, bringing to our attention the delights of the writing and the perspective of someone who was a part of that troubling era.
The book club meets on Wednesday November 9 from 5:30 – 7:00 in room 301 of the library and on Zoom. Everyone is welcome, you don’t have to be a veteran to attend, just interested in good books and lively conversation. If you have questions or are interested in the Zoom link or a copy of the book, please contact Rhonda Culbertson rculbert@iusb.edu.
True War Stories edited by Alex de Campi and Khai Krumbhaar
Please join us for the first Veterans Book Club discussion of the 2022/23 academic year. We’ll be talking about the graphic novel, True War Stories. Everyone interested in veterans experiences, books and good conversation is welcome. We will be meeting at 5:30 in the Schurz Library Room 301 and on Zoom. For more information, the Zoom link or a free copy of the book please contact Rhonda Culbertson rculbert@iusb.edu.
This graphic novel started as a passion Kickstarter project by accomplished comics artist de Campi along with veteran Krumbhaar. The duo collected a variety of stories from veterans of different times – some are funny, some are thoughtful and some are heartbreaking. They enlisted several comic artists to help tell the stories, resulting in a variety of visual styles
John Thompson, a member of the IU South Bend Fine Arts faculty, and a veteran, will be leading the discussion. John has published the graphic novel The Comely Widow: The Crimes of Serial Killer Belle Gunness https://www.amazon.com/Comely-Widow-Crimes-Serial-Gunness-ebook/dp/B095W25TFT We look forward to learning from him about the the genre of the graphic novel and how art plays an essential role in telling these stories.
True War Storiesedited by Alex Di Campi and Khai Krumbhaar
September 15, 2022 – 5:30 Schurz Library Conference Room (L301) and on Zoom
True War Stories is a graphic novel anthology which includes the stories of fifteen American service members, written and illustrated by professional authors and comic artists. Stories range from funny to heartbreaking and include a variety of visual styles.
John Thompson, veteran, IU South Bend fine arts faculty and published graphic novelist will be leading the discussion.
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
November 10, 2022, – 5:30 Schurz Library Conference Room (L301) and on Zoom
This Pulitzer Prize winning novel combines elements of dark comedy, espionage, war, satire and metafiction. The author was born in Vietnam, and fled with his family as refugees after the fall of Saigon. He is now a professor of literature at the University of Southern California.
It follows the story of a North Vietnamese mole in the South Vietnamese army who continues his espionage after being embedded in a Vietnamese community in the U.S. The Washington Post reviewer describes it as, “ a new classic of war fiction.”
Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest by Stephen Edward Ambrose
January 26, 2023, – 5:30 Schurz Library Conference Room (L301) and on Zoom
Adapted into a hit HBO miniseries, this WWII page-turner is based on interviews collected by popular historian Stephen E. Ambrose. The Easy Company dramatically captured Hitler’s outpost the Eagle’s Nest at Berchtesgaden. The book covers the Company’s story from recruitment to its disbanding.
Unbecoming: A Memoir of Disobedience by Anuradha Bhagwati
March 10, 2023, – 5:30 Schurz Library Conference Room (L301) and on Zoom
Bhagwati dropped out of an Ivy League graduate program to join the Marines, much to the dismay of her strict immigrant parents. As a bisexual woman of color in the military she faced misogyny, racism, homophobia and sexual violence. However she prevailed in this environment and was honorably discharged after five years. After her military service, she helped found the Service Women’s Action Network, which advocates for women who suffer sexual assault in the military and successfully lobbied Congress to expand the participation of women in combat roles.
Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War By Mary Roach
April 13, 2023, – 5:30 Schurz Library Conference Room (L301) and on Zoom
Mary Roach is a best-selling popular science writer, whose hilarious dead-pan humor belies the serious scientific research she investigates. Grunt covers some of the amazing, (and occasionally bizarre,) technology coming out of military research. These advances not only keep military personnel safer, they have tremendous potential for improving life for civilians as well.
Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War By Mary Roach
April 13, 2023, – 5:30 Schurz Library Conference Room (L301) and on Zoom
Mary Roach is a best-selling popular science writer, whose hilarious dead-pan humor belies the serious scientific research she investigates. Grunt covers some of the amazing, (and occasionally bizarre,) technology coming out of military research. These advances not only keep military personnel safer, they have tremendous potential for improving life for civilians as well.
Mary Roach is a best-selling popular science writer, whose hilarious dead-pan humor belies the serious scientific research she investigates. Grunt covers some of the amazing, (and occasionally bizarre,) technology coming out of military research. These advances not only keep military personnel safer, they have tremendous potential for improving life for civilians as well.
About the IU South Bend Veterans Book Club
The Veterans Book Club is open to everyone interested in veteran’s experiences, stimulating discussion and good books. We usually have a group of 10 -15 participants, both veterans and civilians, including students, faculty, staff and members of the community. We’ve explored a wide gamut of genres including novels, memoir, short stories, poetry, philosophy, in-depth journalism, graphic novels and history.
For more information contact Rhonda Culbertson (rculbert@iusb.edu, 574-520-5598) Free copies of the book are available for each book club meeting. Watch the Daily Titan for upcoming events.
The book club is supported by a generous gift from Jerry and Dorene Hammes.
The next meeting of the Veterans Book Club will be Thursday March 24 at 5:30 in Room 301 of the IU South Bend Schurz Library and on Zoom.
Book Cover
One of the authors, Scott Leeper, is a student at IUSB and a leader of the Student Veterans Organization. In the book, Scott tells the stories of his father’s alcohol addiction and the impact it had on Scott, his family and his military career. He will be leading our discussion.
Please consider joining us for a great evening of good conversation, and the chance to meet an author from the IUSB community. The Veterans Book Club is open to to everyone on and off campus interested in veteran’s experiences. For more information or the Zoom link, contact Rhonda Culbertson, rculbert@rhondaculbertson
February 10, 2022 – 5:30 Library 3rd Floor Conference Room (L301) and on Zoom
This 2014 National Book Award winning collection of short stories was selected by the New York Times as one of the 10 Best Books of the Year. The stories in Redeployment cover the tragedy and absurdity of war, and the consequences for those who return from war. The New York Times reviewer Dexter Filkens compares it favorably to Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried. Filkens writes that the book is “hilarious, biting, whipsawing and sad. It’s the best thing written so far on what the war did to people’s souls.”
Book Cover
Drowning in Addiction: Sink or Swim, A Personal Guide to Choosing Your Legit Path to Recovery
by Scott Leeper
March 24, 2022, – 5:30 Library Conference Room (L301) and on Zoom
We have the privilege of featuring the book of one of our own IU South Bend student veterans. Scott will talk about his book and his experiences suffering from and overcoming addiction. Family history and military service exacerbated his struggles. Today, in addition to being a student, leading the SVO and working in the Office of Veteran Student Services, Scott is an inspirational speaker and Mindset Coach.
The IU South Bend Veterans Book Club will be meeting Thursday Dec 2 at 5:00 to discuss Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII by Chester Nez and Judith Schiess Avila. We will meet both in person in room 301 of the library and on Zoom.
During World War II, the Japanese cracked every code used by the United States until Navajo recruits in the Marines developed and implemented a secret military language based on the Navajo language. This absorbing first person account tells the story of one of the Navajo code-talkers, Chester Nez, from his childhood of abuse in an American Indian boarding school to his military service which helped the Allies achieve victory in the Pacific.
The Veterans Book Club is open to everyone interested in books and great conversation. For more information or a free copy of the book, contact Rhonda Culbertson (rculbert@iusb.edu) Please consider joining us!
The next meeting of the IU South Bend Veterans Book Club will be Thursday Oct 21 at 5:30. There are options for Zoom and in person participation. The book club will be discussion Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain. It’s a dark humor satire about fame, celebrity, and commercialism in the U.S. The story covers the 15 minutes of fame thrust upon Bravo squad after being filmed by a news team during a firefight. The military, the NFL and the rich, famous, and powerful all want to capitalize on the men’s heroics. The IU South Bend Veterans Book Club is open to everyone on campus and in the community interested in veteran’s experiences and thoughtful conversation. If you would like more information, or a free copy of the book, please contact Rhonda Culbertson (rculbert@iusb.edu)
IU South Bend Veterans Book Club 