The Today Show Spotlights a Novel of Resilience & History
A hidden trove of diaries, newspapers, and testimonies from the Warsaw Ghetto inspired We Must Not Think of Ourselves, a gripping novel by Lauren Grodstein, the Graduate Program Director of the Creative Writing MFA at Rutgers University–Camden. Published by Algonquin Books, the novel is the focus of Rutgers–Camden Author Joins Today Show Book Club with Powerful New Novel, an article by Christina Lynn. The story follows Adam, a teacher turned archivist, as he documents both the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life in the ghetto. Grodstein’s storytelling brings to light the sacrifices made to preserve history, including the bravery of children who smuggled food to survive.
The novel has received national recognition, earning a place as The Today Show’s Read with Jenna Book Club pick for December 2023. Joining the ranks of authors like Toni Morrison and Judy Blume, Grodstein described the honor as transformative. “It’s very hard for literary fiction to penetrate, to get out in the world. To have someone hold your book up in front of the country is just amazing,” she shared.
In addition to her success as an author, Grodstein continues to inspire writers as a mentor and educator. Her dual roles inform her teaching, offering students in the Creative Writing MFA program unique insights into the literary world. On March 28, 2024, she will bring her acclaimed novel to a Writers in Camden event, sharing her work and her journey with the Rutgers–Camden community.
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Rutgers–Camden’s MFA: A Multi-Genre Journey in Creative Writing
The Rutgers University–Camden Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing is a 39-credit terminal degree that fosters a multi-genre approach, encouraging exploration across fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Students engage in small, personalized workshops and craft classes led by distinguished, award-winning faculty, including recipients of the Pulitzer Prize and Guggenheim Fellowship. The program offers full financial support to all full-time incoming students, encompassing tuition remission and a living stipend. Situated just minutes from Philadelphia, the campus nurtures a vibrant literary community centered around the historic Writers House on Cooper Street. Additionally, students have opportunities to interact with nationally acclaimed visiting authors through the NEA-supported Writers in Camden series and can participate in international experiences across Europe, Asia, or South America.
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