Literature for Lunch is a beloved public book discussion series hosted by Boise State University Professors of English Literature for nearly half a century. Beginning in 1980 with Professors Dr. Carol Martin and Dr. Jan Widmayer, the series has evolved in location, leadership, and format, yet its heart remains the same: a welcoming space for thoughtful conversation about great literature.
Professor Ann Campbell leads the series and has been directing discussions since 2022. She brought the program to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Center in 2023, where it continues to thrive. Professor Campbell will host Literature for Lunch throughout the 2025/26 academic year.
All discussions are free and open to the public, and are held on Fridays at 12 noon at:
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Center
220 E. Parkcenter Blvd., Boise, ID 83706
Whether you’re a longtime attendee or new to Boise, join us for rich conversations and a shared love of literature, community, and connection.
Questions? Contact Ann Campbell
Lit for Lunch 2026/27 Schedule:
Sept 4, 2026: Thomas Hardy, Tess of the D’Urbervilles (1891) (cohosted with Art Department Chair Dr. Dan Scott)
Oct 16, 2026: Roger Zelazny, A Night in the Lonesome October (1993)
Nov 20, 2026: Barbara Pym, Excellent Women (1952)
No meeting in December
Jan (Date TBD), 2027: Andrew Miller, The Land in Winter (2024)
Feb (Date TBD), 2027: Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner, The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873)
March (Date TBD), 2027: Min Jin Lee, American Hagwon (2026)
April (Date TBD), 2027: Andrea Levy, Small Island (2004)
May (Date TBD), 2027: Edith Wharton, Summer (1917)
For readings of previous years, visit the Lit for Lunch Archives Page.