Oct. 29: Novelist Rebecca Makkai visits CLC

Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Makkai comes to College of Lake County (CLC) Thursday, Oct. 29 for a free public reading of her award-winning novel "The Great Believers" and conversation with a panel of CLC students. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre at the Grayslake Campus.

"The Great Believers," a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction and the National Book Award, explores friendship, loss and resilience through the lives of people affected by the AIDS epidemic in 1980s Chicago and its lasting impact decades later.

"We are thrilled Rebecca Makkai is coming to campus," said English Instructor Alexandra Swanson. "Many CLC students and staff as well as community members have been studying her work ahead of the reading. What we keep seeing is that her work resolutely resonates with the CLC community."

The event offers students and community members a chance to hear directly from an award-winning author about her work. Through the student panel, attendees will also gain insight into the novel through questions and discussion. Makkai will sign books after the event.

"I think Makkai's 'The Great Believers' is a powerful and meaningful novel because it explores themes of loss, discrimination, love and the importance of human connection," said Uliana Kryvdyk, a student participating in a CLC book club focused on Makkai's work. "I am very excited Makkai is coming to CLC because meeting the author will be a wonderful opportunity to learn more about her writing and the real-life issues that inspire her work."

The reading is free and open to the public. Registration is available here. Walk-ins are welcome.