Charles Dickens' Bleak House is often labeled his masterpiece and his most technically ambitious novel. An exploration of Dickens' biography and the novel's historical context will enhance our reading. What are the targets of his satire? What new unforgettable characters do we meet?They range from lords and ladies to crossing sweepers, from the slightly insane to the darkly sinister. There is even a detective brought in to solve the mystery. Any edition is fine; read chapter one for the first class.

Join a thoughtful discussion of Pat Conroy’s acclaimed novel Beach Music. The story examines the impact of a young woman’s suicide on family and friends across three generations. Set in Rome and South Carolina, the novel explores themes of family, religion, politics, war, culture, and nature from World War II through the 1980s. Used paperback copies are widely available online.

Mystery stories are always a puzzle. As we read the stories, we'll try to figure out whodunit and whydunit before the detectives in the book find these answers. The term will read these mysteries: -- Monkeewrench by P.J. Tracy -- Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger -- Along Came a Spider by James Patterson -- Bad Business by Robert B. Parker -- Fade Away by Harlan Coben