Alumni Book Club

Personal stories, timely topics, transformative fiction鈥� Let鈥檚 dig into some amazing books together! All curious readers are welcome at the 天美影院Alumni Book Club. Together, we read a book about every two months. Choose just one or all five 鈥� whatever works for you.

Book Cover: The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue.

Now Reading

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

July 31鈥揙ct. 2, 2026

Readers鈥� Choice! A free-spirited and artistic young woman in 18th-century France feels trapped by the limited horizons of her tiny village. She makes a magical bargain that lets her live forever 鈥� while always being forgotten. The centuries tick slowly by until she meets a bookstore clerk who somehow remembers her name.

鈫� New York Times Bestseller!

V.E. Schwab is a New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty books. She got her undergraduate degree in book design, then earned her听masters studying depictions of monstrosity in medieval art. When not haunting Paris streets or writing in the corner of her favorite coffee shop, she lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.

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The free online forum has suggested timelines and prompts for online discussion. Join us and take the conversation to the next level!

鈥淭he kind of book you stay up all night reading 鈥� rich and satisfying and strange and impeccably crafted.鈥�

鈥擪irkus Reviews

Campus Connections

“This is a novel unshakably fixed on the idea that art makes life worth living.” 鈥�New York Times

If you were blessed (or cursed?) with immortality, how would you spend your first 300 years? Our title character finds meaning by throwing herself into powerful artistic experiences, seeking out live music, art museums and midnight dance parties. Here are some ideas for adding more art into your life!

(UWAA members can save on many arts and culture performances through their member benefits. Not a member yet? Join today!)

Music

Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley in Seattle the third-longest-running jazz club in the U.S. It’s the West Coast’s top venue for jazz, blues, soul and more.
The Seattle Symphony is recognized for its extraordinary performances, programming, recordings and community engagement.
The 5th Avenue Theatre is one of America鈥檚 leading musical theater companies 鈥� giving the Pacific Northwest a front-row seat to original powerhouse productions.

Blurred photo of paint being rolled onto a canvas.

Visual Arts

The UW’s is internationally recognized for groundbreaking exhibitions and dynamic programs. Free to all visitors!
at the 天美影院hosts inspiring exhibitions and a vibrant dialog about art, art history, and design. Free!
Keep an eye on the events calendar for the for more great experiences.

Dance

Meany Center for the Performing Arts brings daring acrobatics and poetic contemporary dance as well as a great music performances to the 天美影院campus.
With dance studios in the University District and Capitol Hill, PopRox Dance blends fitness, mental well-being and self-expression in an inclusive environment.

Author Interview

CBS News spoke with author V.E. Schwab in 2024 about how she finds her ideas through creative cross-pollination. In this , you can feel how thrilled she is to browse through all the books she hadn’t read yet.

“I want to just absorb character. I want to absorb story.”

2026-2027 Reading List

Reading Period July 31鈥揙ct. 2

Reading Period Oct. 9鈥揇ec. 11

Reading Period Jan. 2鈥揗arch 6

Reading Period March 13鈥揗ay 15

Reading Period May 22鈥揓uly 24

Reader Benefits

University Book Store

Seattle-area readers, save 20% on 鈥淭he Invisible Life of Addie LaRue!鈥� Visit Barnes & Noble at University Book Store (located on The Ave) and mention the 天美影院Alumni Book Club discount at checkout.

Seattle Arts & Lectures

UWAA members and book club participants save 20% on tickets for all events in the Seattle Arts & Lectures 2026/27 season! Use the code UWAA20 to save on in-person and online passes.

University Libraries

UWAA members are eligible for a free 天美影院Libraries Borrower’s Card.

Up Next

A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende

Reading Period: July 31鈥揙ct. 2, 2026

Readers’ Choice!听 In the late 1930s, civil war grips Spain. Hundreds of thousands flee to France, including a wounded army doctor and his brother’s widow. The two form an uncomfortable partnership in order to seek refuge in Chile as Europe erupts in war 鈥� but life in exile comes with its own dangerous challenges.

鈫� New York Times Bestseller!