The Fall One Book Program Gains a Gothic Twist with a Classic Novel

The pursuit of knowledge. Human nature. Revenge. These are the themes for this semester’s One Book Program on campus. Every spring, the college holds a vote for a book that PVCC’s students, professors, and faculty members can read together. Previous years have ranged from Grit, about resilience; The New Jim Crow, about life after incarceration; The Story of More, on global warming;  and many others. This year’s fiction selection is Mary Shelly’s 1818 classic Frankenstein—The Modern Prometheus.  

When hearing the title Frankenstein, many just think of a giant green monster that was brought to life through lightning. Unfortunately, over its two-century lifetime, people have only remembered Frankenstein’s Monster (whose name is, in fact, not Frankenstein) and have forgotten the important themes this book has in store for readers. It offers a timeless examination of the way people (and creations) battle isolation and injustice. It questions what happens when humans play god with technology they don’t understand and highlights the unintended consequences of people’s actions. Multiple English 111 and 112 classes are using this book as a jumping-off point for important conversations. Professors are pointing out how Shelley’s Frankenstein fits well into our modern conversation of technology and AI; is it another example of human creation outpacing our morality?

Students, professors, and faculty members on campus can pick up a free copy of the book at the library. 

Crystal Newell, the senior director of library and academic support, has been the director of the PVCC Libraries for 10 years! She is on the committee that holds the yearly vote for the selected book. In her words, the One Book program is important to PVCC campus because “it adds an opportunity for continued dialogue in the classroom and outside of the classroom.”

“Based on the themes of the book, it promotes community, and it promotes dialogues around the themes. It’s a nice, fun opportunity to break up the monotony because the faculty incorporates it into their courses, and the book changes every year, so it allows them to do different things, introduce different topics and themes…so it adds spice and variety. Plus reading!”

Pick up a free copy from the library (open Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). There are also themed events throughout the month of November, such as:

Braver Angels Debate, Genetic Engineering, Nov. 17, 12:45-1:45 p.m., Bolick Center: “The PVCC Braver Angels debate will discuss the topic of genetic engineering, or ‘the alteration of genetic material in living things with the aim of producing new substances or creating new functions…’”

Art Exhibition: Spare Parts, Friday, November 21, 2025, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Dickinson Building Gallery: “An exhibition in the Dickinson gallery of artists who work in the medium of collage and assemblage. Inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, we are also hosting a campus-wide photo contest that will result in a slide show to be included in the exhibition.” The photo contest will be accepting entries until November 6th at 11:59 pm.

Films Talk Back Series: Frankenstein, Nov. 21, 7-9 p.m., Dickinson Theater: “A silent film with musical accompaniment of Tom Teasley.”