On the 9th of September, 2023, Sharjah Art Foundation (SAF) will hold a free meeting of its book club on the theme of identity politics. The recommended age of a participant is 15+. The meetup, which takes place at the Al Mureijah Art Spaces (Al Mureijah Square), will last from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Languages spoken are English and Arabic.
Among the books that the participants will discuss at the meeting are such popular ones as “Crying in H Mart: A Memoir” (2021) by Michelle Zauner, an American singer and guitarist of the Indie band titled Japanese Breakfast; “Things Fall Apart” (1958) by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe; and “Between The World and Me” (2015) by American author Ta-Nehisi Coates. One is encouraged to bring their favourite books on the identity politics theme.
In her book “Crying in H Mart”, which became A New York Times bestseller, Zauner talks about her growing up as an Asian American kid in Oregon and her turbulent relationship with her mother. As an adult, at one point in her life, Zauner realised that her Korean identity began to feel more distant. However, her mother’s incurable disease forced her to reckon with her identity and reclaim the language and history her mother had given her.
“Things Fall Apart” portrays traditional African life in Nigeria in conflict with colonial rule and westernisation. While this novel depicts “the struggle between change and tradition”, “Between The World and Me” is written by Coates as a letter to his teenage son about his perception of what it is like to be Afro-American living in the USA. The author draws from his memories of his youth he spent in Baltimore, Maryland.
Sharjah Art Foundation aims to make it possible for anyone with special needs to attend the meeting. Please, contact SAF in advance to arrange any support needed during this event.
To learn more about the meeting and register, please visit its official web page.
You might also be interested in visiting An Odyssey of Identity at the Firetti Contemporary Gallery. Besides, if you are looking for a library to borrow a book or two, we would recommend you to read our article about four Dubai libraries.
