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U of T Alumni Virtual Book Club - From My Mother's Back

Connect with fellow alumni who love books

Online Events
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  • A virtual book club for U of T alumni
  • The session begins on May 27, 2021 and runs until July 29, 2021
  • Each session covers one book with weekly discussions
  • Missed the registration deadline? Email regional.programs@alumni.utoronto.ca
  • Already read the book? You're still welcome to join the discussion!
  • If you've already signed up for our book club, your membership rolls over into the next cycle

The University of Toronto is pleased to invite you to join our Alumni Virtual Book Club. Join fellow alumni for lively discussion about books related to lifelong learning, social issues, psychology and more. 

Our next title is From My Mother's Back: A Journey from Kenya to Canada by U of T alumna Njoki Wane (PhD 1996 OISE).

In this warm and honest memoir, celebrated academic Njoki Wane shares her journey from her parents' small coffee farm in Kenya, where she helped her mother in the fields as a child, to her current work as a professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.

From now until June 15, 2021, purchase the book from the U of T Bookstore and receive 20% off. Use Code: ALUMNICLUB20 at checkout.  

How it Works

The U of T Alumni Virtual Book Club will connect through a private forum, powered by PBC Guru, where participants can discuss the current book and network with each other. Joining is free; you just have to get a copy of the book to enjoy. Please note that if you signed up for one of our previous sessions, then you're already registered - just sign into the U of T online portal.

To get started and access the book club, you will need to create an account via our book club portal:

  • Click on the "Registration" button on the side bar to your right
  • You'll be taken directly to the sign-up page
  • Fill out the mandatory fields and then join
  • You'll be sent a confirmation email and a link to join the group


Computer Literacy

You will need to have knowledge of the following skills to participate in this book club:

  • Ability to use online communication tools, such as email (create, send, receive, reply, print, send/receive attachments), discussion boards (read, search, post, reply, follow threads), chats, and messengers.
  • Understanding of basic computer hardware and software; ability to perform computer operations, such as:
  • Using software applications, such as email programs
  • Knowledge of copying and pasting, spell-checking
  • Internet skills (connecting, accessing, using browsers) and ability to perform online research using search engines
Alum wearing headphones and using laptop

This event is part of

Online Events 

U of T alumni online programming includes free Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs), the U of T alumni book club, and online lectures and webinars on a wide range of topics from health to computing to Indigenous Studies.

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