Alumni Book Club
Personal stories, timely topics, transformative fiction… Let’s dig into some amazing books together! All curious readers are welcome at the UW Alumni Book Club. Together, we read a book about every two months. Choose just one or all five — whatever works for you.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Readers’ 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 — while always being forgotten. The centuries tick slowly by until she meets a bookstore clerk who somehow remembers her name.
→ New York Times Bestseller!
Join the Discussion
The free online forum has suggested timelines and prompts for online discussion. Join us and take the conversation to the next level!
“The kind of book you stay up all night reading — rich and satisfying and strange and impeccably crafted.”
—Kirkus Reviews
Campus Connections
“This is a novel unshakably fixed on the idea that art makes life worth living.” —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’s leading musical theater companies — giving the Pacific Northwest a front-row seat to original powerhouse productions.
Visual Arts
- The UW’s is internationally recognized for groundbreaking exhibitions and dynamic programs. Free to all visitors!
- at the UW 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 UW 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–Oct. 2
Reading Period Oct. 9–Dec. 11
Reading Period Jan. 2–March 6
Reading Period March 13–May 15
Reading Period May 22–July 24
Reader Benefits
University Book Store
Seattle-area readers, save 20% on “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue!” Visit Barnes & Noble at University Book Store (located on The Ave) and mention the UW 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 UW Libraries Borrower’s Card.
A Long Petal of the Sea
Readers’ Choice!Ěý 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 — but life in exile comes with its own dangerous challenges.
→ New York Times Bestseller!
Alumni Book Club Archives
UW alumni and friends have been getting together to discuss books online since 2019! Take a look at the titles we have talked about so far.
2025-2026 Archives
2024-2025 Archives
2023-2024 Archives
2022-2023 Archives
2021-2022 Archives
2020-2021 Archives
2019-2020 Archives
