Literary Cleveland invites readers to join a deep dive into the eleven novels of Lorain native and Nobel Prize–winning author Toni Morrison. Participants will read and discuss Morrison’s work in the historical order in which the novels are set, beginning in the 1680s with A Mercy and concluding in the 2000s with God Help the Child.
This pay-what-you-can reader series offers historical context, close reading, and guided discussion, allowing participants to explore Morrison’s novels as a sweeping and illuminating American narrative. Readers may register for individual sessions or commit to the full year.
Each session meets on the third Saturday of the month from 1:00–3:00 PM at ThirdSpace Reading Room (1464 East 105th Street, Cleveland).
Monthly Schedule & Reading Themes
- February 21, 2026 – Course Introduction
- March 21, 2026 – A Mercy
- April 18, 2026 – Beloved
Session Two
- May 16, 2026 – Sula
- June 20, 2026 – Jazz
- July 18, 2026 – The Bluest Eye
Session Three
- August 15, 2026 – Home
- September 19, 2026 – Song of Solomon
- October 17, 2026 – Paradise
Session Four
- November 21, 2026 – Tar Baby
- December 19, 2026 – Love
- January 16, 2027 – God Help the Child
Participants may read the books ahead of time, alongside the class, or after sessions conclude. The series is open to all experience levels and is designed as a craft-based discussion led by experienced instructors who provide context, analysis, and guided conversation.
Discounted copies of Morrison’s books are available through Literary Cleveland’s partner, ThirdSpace Reading Room. Two scholarship spots are available for writers in Northeast Ohio.
