Efacis 
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 2024-2025
| 16 October 2024 | 8-10 pm CET |
Anne Enright - The Wren, The Wren (2023) Introduction by Anne Fogarty (University College Dublin) |
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12 November 2024 |
8-10 pm CET |
Paul Lynch - Prophet Song (2023) Introduction by Hélène Lecossois (Université de Lille) |
| 11 December 2024 | 8-10 pm CET |
Dawn Watson - We Play Here (2023) Introduction by Jessica Bundschuh (Universität Stuttgart) The author will be joining for a Q&A session at 9pm CET! |
| 12 February 2025 | 8-10 pm CET |
Sebastian Barry - Old God's Time (2023) Introduction by Sylvie Mikowski (Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne) |
| 26 March 2025 | 8-10 pm CET |
Megan Nolan - Ordinary Human Failings (2023) Introduction by Hedwig Schwall (KU Leuven) |
| 23 April 2025 | 8-10 pm CET |
Clair Wills - Missing Persons, or My Grandmother's Secrets (2024) Introduction by Anne Fogarty (University College Dublin) |
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 |
| 15 November 2023 | 8-10 pm CET |
Roisín O'Donnell - selected short stories from Wild Quiet (2016) Introduction by Marie Gemrichová (Charles University Prague) The author will be joining for a Q&A session at 9pm CET. |
| 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. |
| 21 February 2024 | 8-10 pm CET |
Kerri ní Dochartaigh - Thin Places (2021) Introduction by Prof. Fiona McCann (Université de Lille) |
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13 March 2024
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8-10 pm CET
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Colin Walsh - selected short stories Introduction by Prof. Hedwig Schwall (KULeuven) The author will be present for a Q&A session. |
| 8 May 2024 | 8-10 pm CET |
Elaine Feeney - How to Build a Boat (2023) Introduction by Prof. Katharina Rennhak (Bergische Universität Wuppertal) |
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 |
