Rainbow Lifelong Learning Institute, Boston

Schedule: This course will take place on Zoom on Wednesdays at 1:30 PM for 5 weeks (9/10/25 - 10/8/25)

Course Description:

Cat Brushing is a critically aclaimed collection of short sotires by the English author Jane Campbell.  She published it (her first!) when she was 80 years old.

The stories were beautifully written with wisdom and wit, illuminate the inner lives of older women as fullly formed, complex human beings, without the stereotyping that often presents us as carictures. 

Good Reads described it this way, "A rousing and original debut story collection that probes the erotic, emotional, and intellectual lives of older women."

There are 13 stories in the collection. We will read them all and will discuss a selectionof them in depth. Class discussions will be led by five Rainbow members.

This book is a treat! We are excited

1st week - Alison Morgan, focus on “Lamia”

2nd week - Bonnie Hallisey, focus on “Lockdown Fantasms”

3rd week - Margaret Kelner, focus on “Lacrimae Rerum”

4th week - Abbie Padgett, focus on “183 Minutes”

5th week - Leah Ziph, focus on “On Being Alone”

Reqired Materials:

 “Cat Brushing” by Jane Campbell.

The book is available through various library systems, in bookstores and from Amazon.

Prep for the First Class:

Read the book (or as much of it as possible) - at least including “Lamia.” All the discussions will refer to themes recurring throughout the collection,rather than just bhe specific story for that week.