In an age where endless scrolling and short-form content vies for our attention, books are having a renaissance. From Threads to #Booktok, communities of book lovers are congregating on social media to discuss their favorite books and genres.
Yet, there aren’t many opportunities to speak in real-time about the material — and about books and authors left out of the wider internet chatter.
Introducing the Libros & Chisme book club. Previously called the Latinx Book Club, it was formed in 2023 by Shearing Fellow Edgar Gomez during his fellowship at the Black Mountain Institute (BMI). Gomez wanted to create something for the local Latinx community that hadn’t been done before, providing a space where students and the community could gather to discuss literary themes that resonated with their personal experiences.
BMI’s associate director of development, Kim Treviño, now leads the club.
“I think what makes this book club special is the content that we’re covering, the stories that we’re reading, and the people that are there,” she said.
During a spring meeting, a couple of undergraduate students approached Treviño, mentioning how they had been looking for a club like this for a while — furthering her belief in the necessity of having a book club like Libros & Chisme.
“I thought that if we could create more spaces for people that look like us and that share commonalities, there could be a lot more joy in the world.”
Community, Connection, Chisme
Meaningful conversations is what chisme is all about – well, mostly.
Chisme means gossip in Spanish, but you won’t find malicious discussions happening here. Often a pillar of social interactions in Latinx communities, chisme gives people the opportunity to discuss something of great interest among each other.
At Libros & Chisme, literature offers a way to explore real-life experiences in a safe environment.
“We were all in awe of how quickly, after just meeting each other, we could feel so vulnerable and safe to talk about these really hard things,” says Treviño. “That’s what I love most about this book club. You’re going to a group therapy session in a weird way, but you're not alone. You’re with a lot of people who have similar lived experiences as you.”
Everyone is welcome to join, whether you're an avid reader or just curious about the discussion.
“Book clubs can carry certain weights as well — like you have to come prepared. At this book club, you don’t have to finish the book; just come because you want to. We don’t turn anyone away. I just want people to have a good time and to hopefully walk away feeling like they are part of something.”
Soft Launching into Spooky Season
Treviño embraced the Halloween spirit by kicking off the club's first fall meeting with horror fiction.
“I love ghosts,” she says. “I looked at what the past fellows had done and I wanted to choose a horror novel, not just because it's October, but because rarely do you hear about Latin American horror novelists like Mariana Enriquez. That’s why I feel like this club is important, we're educating people about all of these amazing Latin American authors who are putting out phenomenal stuff.”
From Enriquez' gothic and terrifying Our Share of Night to the darkly comic of Say Hello To My Little Friend by Jennine Capó Crucet, the books shared in Libros & Chisme provide a space for members to explore themes to connect and feel seen while encouraging support and community through meaningful conversations.
More on Libros & Chisme
Open to everyone, Libros & Chisme is scheduled to meet throughout the fall and spring semesters. No sign-up required. Find more information on the UNLV Calendar or visit the BMI events page.
About the Black Mountain Institute:
The Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute (BMI) is UNLV's international literary center. Founded in 2006 by the late Dr. Carol C. Harter, UNLV's longest-serving president, BMI serves Las Vegas and broader communities with live events, fellowships, and public engagement.
BMI is deeply involved in the campus community, offering graduate assistantships, internships, and volunteer positions. BMI also hosts workshops, craft talks, and business of writing lunches for students.
