Course

This course offers a deep dive into contemporary novels that illuminate women’s ever-evolving relationships with their bodies, desire, and identity in the 21st century. We’ll read bold, boundary-pushing works by writers such as Ottessa Moshfegh, Miranda July, Raven Leilani, Carmen Maria Machado, Elena Ferrante, and others who redefined how women’s interior lives are portrayed on the page.

Faculty Bio

Stephanie Wells has a B.A. from Berkeley, M.A. from University of Virginia, and Ph.D. from UC Davis, with a focus on modernism and postmodernism in American and British novels and poetry. She has been a literature professor for over 25 years, currently at College of Marin. She is the recipient of the 2025 OLLI @Berkeley Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award.

This is an In-Person + Livestreamed Course

• Classes meet in person at the Golden Bear Center, Suite 365, at 1995 University Ave., Berkeley
• Classes will also stream live simultaneously
• Classes will not be video recorded
• You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program.

Schedule Highlights

• Course starts on Monday, Jan. 26, and ends on Monday, March 9
• Classes meet for 6 weeks, two hours per session (10-noon)
• There is no class on Feb. 16
• All course materials will remain in Member Dashboards through March 29

Member Praise for Stephanie Wells 

Absolutely OUTSTANDING! I treasure every moment of this course. Thank you Stephanie Wells for teaching these courses and sharing your insights so freely and enthusiastically. I have learned so much in such a short time. 

An intelligent, stimulating instructor who is well versed in her subject. I would say the same for all of the courses I have taken from Stephanie Wells.

All the material selected was organized, presented and discussed thoughtfully and shared with great insight that expanded my appreciation, perspective of understanding. I found it so exciting and rewarding to both meet and revisit so many authors and explore the wide range of material, subjects and styles explored by these women.

Faculty Q&A

• Read an interview with Stephanie Wells from our archive.

Syllabi and faculty video preview coming soon.