The IRC's reimagined International Book Club, facilitated by IRC member Parker Heying, is meant to offer an engaging space for readers of all ages and backgrounds to connect, explore, and discuss thought-provoking books that illuminate the complexities of our world.
Whether you're passionate about nonfiction deep dives into global issues or enjoy novels that provide fresh perspectives on international cultures and experiences – you can find thoughtful, nuanced discussion that explores the world. Each meeting will start off with an open-forum discussion between readers about the topics and themes of the books, and for the second half, we will be joined by a subject-matter expert to help provide additional context & insights.
Open to readers of all ages and backgrounds, we warmly invite you to partake in the IRC's International Book Club and connect with others who share a curiosity about global affairs and a love of literature. Expand your horizons, foster meaningful connections, and discover stories that inspire and inform in this inclusive and welcoming community. Join us for a journey through the pages of captivating books and dynamic conversations that bring them to life. Let's explore the world together—one book at a time.
We've got in-person and virtual options available for participants, whether you can make it in-person, or from the comfort of your own home - you're welcome to take part in the evening's discussion!
About The Book
Eniola is tall for his age, a boy who looks like a man. Because his father has lost his job, Eniola spends his days running errands for the local tailor, collecting newspapers, begging when he must, dreaming of a big future. Wuraola is a golden girl, the perfect child of a wealthy family. Now an exhausted young doctor in her first year of practice, she is beloved by Kunle, the volatile son of an ascendant politician. When a local politician takes an interest in Eniola and sudden violence shatters a family party, Wuraola’s and Eniola’s lives become intertwined. In her breathtaking second novel, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ shines her light on Nigeria, on the gaping divide between the haves and the have-nots, and the shared humanity that lives in between.
About the Author
Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ is the author of STAY WITH ME and A SPELL OF GOOD THINGS. She holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in Literature in English from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, (Nigeria), and an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia (UK) where she was awarded an international bursary for creative writing. In 2021 her play PROVENANCE was produced by the University of East Anglia and Mutiny and exhibited as a multi-screen immersive installation. Stay With Me won the 9mobile Prize for Literature and Prix Les Afriques and was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize and the Wellcome Book Prize. A Spell of Good Things was longlisted for the Booker prize and was shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize and the Encore Award. Ayọ̀bámi has written for the New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, The Financial Times, BBC, The Guardian (UK), ELLE and others. She has received fellowships and residencies from the MacDowell Colony, Ledig House, Sinthian Cultural Centre, Hedgebrook, Ox-bow School of Arts, and Ebedi Hills. In 2017, she won The Future Awards Africa Prize for Arts and Culture.