We often treat imagination like a luxury, but Ruha Benjamin argues it’s a battlefield. In this episode, Sylvia, Kofi, and Laura glimpse into Imagination: A Manifesto to discuss how we can deprogram ourselves from "dominant imaginaries" and start worldbuilding for the collective good. From dismantling oppressive systems to the "quiet acts of rebellion," they explore Benjamin's ideas of how to dream a better world into reality. 

Footnote from Kofi:

In this episode, Sylvia, Kofi, and Laura examine S.A. Cosby's haunting and visceral masterpiece, All the Sinners Bleed. As Titus Crown navigates his role as the first Black sheriff in a small Virginia town, he is forced to confront the town's buried secrets and his own complicated history. Join Bookish as they discuss this provocative exploration of faith, systemic corruption, and a trail of gruesome ritualistic murders that test the limits of justice.

Get ready to spill the tea on literary snobbery! This episode of Bookish: A Casual Book Club, Laura, Kofi, and Sylvia dive into the often-murky waters of "high brow" vs. "low brow" literature. Is it the Pulitzer, the plot, or the price tag that dictates a book's perceived worth? Join the crew for a lively discussion that might just change how you look at the books on your own shelf.

P.S. Every book lover should read what they love, guilt-free!

This month Bookish takes on S. A. Cosby's gripping crime thriller, Razorblade Tears. After their gay sons are brutally murdered, two ex-cons from vastly different worlds must set aside their prejudice and partner up to confront their shared tragedy. Join Sylvia, Kofi, and Laura as they explore race, sexuality, and classism in this powerful, relentless story of grief, fatherhood, redemption, and a desperate pursuit of justice in the face of deep-seated hate.

The summer is over, the pages are settled, and it's time for Bookish to check in! In this highly anticipated follow-up episode, Sylvia, Kofi, and Laura revisit their ambitious Summer Reading Lists. They’ll discuss which books lived up to the hype, which ones got shelved for later, and how their seasonal reading expectations measured up to reality. Whether you’re into literary fiction, poetry collections, or “long reads,” join this honest, casual look at the joy (and occasional failure) of summer book challenges.

What’s on your summer reading list? In this episode of Bookish: A Casual Book Club, Howard Community College English professors Sylvia, Kofi, and Laura share their top book picks for summer 2025 and unpack why summer reading just feels different.

From urgent poetry and experimental memoir to international fiction and visionary manifestos, the trio offers a vibrant set of book recommendations for every kind of reader. Whether you’re tackling a summer reading challenge or just looking for your next beach read, this episode is packed with literary gems and thoughtful takes on the idea of “seasonal reading.”

Sylvia’s picks include:

Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillo

Bluff by Danez Smith

Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown

Find Me As the Creature I Am by Emily Jungmin Yoon

Laura’s list features:

There There by Tommy Orange

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Bluff by Danez Smith

Kofi recommends:

The Queue by Basma Abdel Aziz

Guapa by Saleem Haddad

In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar

Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

Listen now to discover new authors, unpack the power of summer reading rituals, and get inspired to start your own reading list.

More episodes of Bookish are available here.

Produced by Dragon Media Podcasts at Howard Community College

This week, join Laura, Sylvia, and Kofi as they dive into Claire Keegan's acclaimed novella, "Small Things Like These." The trio explores the book's themes, characters, and the powerful storytelling that has captivated readers worldwide. They also debate whether the book truly deserves the title of "the perfect book" as touted on TikTok. Tune in for thoughtful insights, lively discussions, and a few laughs along the way.

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In this episode, Kofi, Sylvia, and Laura discuss Dave Eggers’ novel, The Parade (2019). They dive into the allegorical story about two men, Four and Nine, who are charged with paving a road between two cities in a country that had been ravaged by war.

In this episode, Kofi, Sylvia, and Laura discuss The Vegetarian by Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith. They talk about the novel's themes and the controversy around its translation. Han Kang is a South Korean author. She is the recipient of this year’s Nobel Prize in literature.