University of Toronto By The Book is a student-led club that carves out space for the kind of reading Dostoevsky called “a plunge into the human soul,” a descent into the ache, wonder, and wildness of being alive. At By The Book, we turn to literature not to escape the world, but to meet it more honestly. We read to trace the shape of longing, to understand why people break, why they reach for each other, and why they keep going. Like Baldwin, we see books as vessels of truth and tenderness, offering not only survival but the language to dream differently. With every page turned, we ask how stories hold memory, how imagination remakes reality, how words can wound and heal in equal measure. Our mission is to gather students around books that leave marks on the mind, the heart, the voice, through conversations that honour vulnerability and the courage it takes to speak.

Whether you’ve read it all or are just picking up the pieces of your reading life, By The Book welcomes you. Expect moments of stillness, bursts of laughter, and ideas that stay with you. Members can look forward to monthly meetings, each dedicated to a different genre—from poetry and memoir to speculative fiction and the modern classic. There will be snacks, creative activities, and occasional themed events to keep things fresh and energizing. We also host conversations with professors and invite community recommendations to shape our reading list. Come for the stories, stay for the conversation.