The EFACIS book club aims to introduce readers to highlights of Irish literature, both past and present. In our book club sessions we predominantly focus on contemporary fiction (and, indeed, mostly books that were published in the past 2-3 years) or discuss works from the twentieth or earlier centuries that are relevant for contemporary Ireland, but have remained under the academic and/or public radar. For the reading lists of past years, please take a look at the Leuven Centre for Irish Studies web page.
From now on, all meetings of the EFACIS book club will take place online, via zoom. Readings and discussions are in English. We usually meet on Wednesdays between 8 pm and 10 pm (CET). During our 2-hour sessions, the work is briefly introduced and contextualized by an expert and then discussed by the participants of the session. Sometimes authors join the book club meetings in the second half.
The book club is open to all. Participants can register for the individual sessions by sending an e-mail to the EFACIS coordinator Sien Deltour.
Reading List 2023-2024
24 October 2023 | 8-10 pm CET |
Sheila Armstrong & Pat Boran (LCIS Writers-in-residence) - selected short stories In person at the Irish College Leuven and online via zoom, the authors will be present Introduction by writer Colin Walsh and Sien Deltour |
November 2023 | TBD |
Roisín Ó Donnell - selected short stories from Wild Quiet (2016) Introduction by Marie Gemrichova (Charles University Prague) |
13 December 2023 | 8-10 pm CET |
Nuala O'Connor - Nora (2022) Introduction by Prof. Marisol Morales-Ladrón (University of Alcalá) The author will be joining for a Q&A session at 9pm CET. |
February 2023 | TBD |
Kerri ní Dochartaigh - Thin Places (2021) |
13 March 2023
|
8-10 pm CET
|
Colin Walsh - selected short stories Introduction by Prof. Hedwig Schwall |
Reading List 2022-2023
12 October 2022 | 8-10 pm CET |
Jaki McCarrick & Mary O'Donnell - selected short stories Introduction by Prof. Hedwig Schwall (KU Leuven) & Dr. Elena Jaime de Pablos (University of Almería) The authors will join at 9 pm. |
10 November 2022 | 8-10 pm CET |
Kevin Barry - That Old Country Music (2020) Introduction by Prof. Hedwig Schwall (KU Leuven) The author will join at 9 pm. |
14 December 2022 | 7-9 pm CET |
Deirdre Sullivan - Savage Her Reply (2020) Introduction by Dr. Christopher Cusack (Radboud University, Nijmegen) The author will join at 8 pm. |
22 February 2023 | 8-10 pm CET |
Louise Kennedy - Trespasses (2022) Introduction by Prof. Anne Fogarty (University College Dublin) |
22 March 2023 | 8-10 pm CET |
Mary Morrissy - Prosperity Drive (2017) Introduction by Prof. Sylvie Mikowski (University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne) The author will join at 9 pm. |
26 April 2023 | 8-10 pm CET |
Mary Costello - The China Factory (2012) Introduction by Margaret Bonass Madden |