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. 

 

All meetings of the EFACIS book club 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 2025-2026

We are now putting together the reading list for 2025-2026. If you would like to suggest a book for us to discuss or if you would like to introduce a future Book Club session, please send a note of interest to Hedwig Schwall (hedwig.schwall@kuleuven.be).

 15 October 2025  8-10 pm CET

 Michael Magee - Close to Home (2023)

 Introduction by Ciara McAllister (Queen's University, Belfast)

 November 2025

  8-10 pm CET

 Paul Murray - The Bee Sting (2023) and/or selected short stories

 Introduction by Hedwig Schwall (KULeuven)

 

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)

 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)

 

13 March 2024

 

 8-10 pm CET

 

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
(LCIS Writers-in-residence)

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