2025-2026 Common Book Announced

The College of Liberal Arts is proud to announce two community conversations for the 2025–2026 Common Book: A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines. Community conversations are open to all members of the UL Lafayette community for an open dialogue about the novel and related themes.

Throughout the academic year, the College will host a variety of events. The first of these will be a community conversation on Wednesday, October 15. The discussion will feature Dr. David Khey, head of the Department of Criminal Justice, and will focus on the criminal justice system. Dr. Shelley Ingram, Dr. Doris Meriwether/BORSF Professor of Folklore, will join a community conversation about cultural foodways on Wednesday, November 5. Both events will take place in Griffin Hall 315 from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm.

Book clubs will also be part of this year-long event. Dr. Gaines’s text was chosen for its rich cultural, ethical, and historical relevance, its strong regional significance as well as the presence of the Ernest J. Gaines Center on UL Lafayette’s campus.

We invite all members of the UL Lafayette community to join us in reading, reflecting, and engaging with this powerful and enduring work. No prior experience with the novel is required for participation.

The College of Liberal Arts will offer a limited number of free copies for UL Lafayette students. Books can be picked up in Griffin Hall 101 beginning in late September on a first come, first served basis. 

Faculty who are interested in incorporating the book into their courses can visit NEA Big Read and Oprah’s Book Club to for teaching resources. The Ernest J. Gaines Center also offers support for teaching and research related to Dr. Gaines’s work. Learn more about the Gaines Center.

Interested in participating in the book club? Sign up here. The deadline for responding is September 30.

For more information or to get involved, please contact Dr. David Squires (david.squires@louisiana.edu), or the College of Liberal Arts.