This exhibit, which is open August 22 – December 16, 2022, celebrates the 55th anniversary of the International Writing Program (IWP) at the University of Iowa. This program has brought close to 1,600 writers from more than 150 countries to the UI since 1967, and this exhibition tells the story of the IWP’s genesis, its role in
Anthony Doerr will present a lecture with some fun slides and take audience questions about his new book, Cloud Cuckoo Land. Each ticketholder will receive a paperback copy of Cloud Cuckoo Land at the event. Masks are required. Purchase Tickets. Pulitzer Prize–winning author Anthony Doerr follows All the Light We Cannot See with Cloud Cuckoo Land—a triumph of imagination
Rebecca Solnit has been named the eleventh recipient of the Paul Engle Prize, presented by the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization. Solnit is a writer, historian, and activist who has written more than twenty books on feminism, environmental and urban history, popular power, social change and insurrection, wandering and walking, hope and disaster, including Whose
The International Writing Program (IWP) is a unique conduit for the world’s literatures, connecting well-established writers from around the globe, bringing international literature into classrooms, introducing American writers to other cultures through reading tours, and serving as a clearinghouse for literary news and a wealth of archival and pedagogical materials. Since 1967, over fifteen hundred
THE IOWA CITY BOOK FESTIVAL AND PRAIRIE LIGHTS BOOKS PRESENTS RANDALL MUNROE This is a bundled ticketed event, price includes General Admission for one, and a hardcover copy of What If? 2, to be picked up at the venue during check-in. Link to purchase tickets is HERE. The #1 New York Times–bestselling author of What If? and How To provides
The Iowa City Book Festival & Crooked Path Productions present... Valor! Strength! Monsters! Hear the tale of Beowulf! Adapted by Charlie Bethel Performed by John Heimbuch Directed by Amy Rummenie John Heimbuch performs Charlie Bethel’s popular one-man adaptation of Beowulf! This faithful and accessible adaptation of this classic Old English poem about a warrior king and
The Iowa City Book Festival & Crooked Path Productions present... Valor! Strength! Monsters! Hear the tale of Beowulf! Adapted by Charlie Bethel Performed by John Heimbuch Directed by Amy Rummenie John Heimbuch performs Charlie Bethel’s popular one-man adaptation of Beowulf! This faithful and accessible adaptation of this classic Old English poem about a warrior king and
In this session a moderated panel of readers will discuss former Iowa City mayor Jim Throgmorton’s new book, Co-crafting the Just City. In it, Throgmorton narrates a story about how, using democratic processes of governance, the residents and elected leaders of the city tried from 2012 through 2019 to co-craft their city's future while being immersed
Hear some of this years’ International Writing Program residents read from their work. Readers TBA.
Peasant Jean Valjean (Jean Gabin) suffered through decades in French prison for stealing a loaf of bread, but once released, life doesn't automatically become easier. Not only does the community shun him as an ex-convict, but a policeman named Javert (Bernard Blier) refuses to believe he's a good man. Wherever Valjean goes, Javert follows, intent
Despite efforts that have been made in the last few decades, gender and racioethnic equity still hasn't been achieved. What's worse, Black, Indigenous, Asian, and Latina women are being held back more than their White counterparts. According to authors Beth A. Livingston and Tina Opie, we need to change how we strive for equity. We
Angie Cruz is a novelist and editor. Her fourth novel, How Not To Drown in A Glass of Water is forthcoming Fall 2022. Her novel, Dominicana was the inaugural book pick for GMA book club and chosen as the 2019/2020 Wordup Uptown Reads. It was shortlisted for The Women’s Prize, longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in
The International Writing Program (IWP) is a unique conduit for the world’s literatures, connecting well-established writers from around the globe, bringing international literature into classrooms, introducing American writers to other cultures through reading tours, and serving as a clearinghouse for literary news and a wealth of archival and pedagogical materials. Since 1967, over fifteen hundred
Project Guttenberg, Audible, Facebook, and Zoom in the Afterlife of The Decameron, Paradise Lost, War and Peace, Brothers Karamazov, and Les Misérables. A session with Professor Anna Barker. This event is live and in-person, and will be streamed live at: https://www.youtube.com/thelibrarychannel
Curtis Bauer and María Sánchez will discuss Sánchez's new memoir, Land of Women. Sánchez, who will appear via Zoom, is a third-generation Spanish veterinarian whose memoir looks at how we view women and rural life. Iowa native Bauer translated the book into English. He appears in partnership with the UI MFA in Literary Translation program.
From renowned scholar Dr. Victor Ray, On Critical Race Theory explains the centrality of race in American history and politics, and how the often mischaracterized intellectual movement became a political necessity. Ray draws upon the radical thinking of giants such as Ida B. Wells, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to clearly trace the foundations
A rich, meditative new collection of poetry from John Koethe, the "necessary and great poet" (Hyperallergic). "It’s presumptuous, but if you’re reading this you Probably know my usual obsessions and preoccupations: The “world”—both the word and what it stands for—and time, Which is or isn’t real, depending on my mood. I’ve always Hated poems about
In They Knew, New York Times bestselling author Sarah Kendzior explores the United States’ “culture of conspiracy,” putting forth a timely and unflinching argument: uncritical faith in broken institutions is as dangerous as false narratives peddled by propagandists. Conspiracy theories are on the rise because officials refuse to enforce accountability for real conspiracies. They Knew discusses
Local Author Book Fair! Join us as local authors present their latest works, answer questions, and sign books. Browse each author's table where various books will be available for purchase. Featuring: Lisa Avelleyra Nina Barragan Judith F. Brenner Lois A. Buntz Erin Casey Aprille Clarke Richard R. DiPirro Joseph Dobrian Corinne Stanley Mary Helen Stefaniak
A reading by Iowa Student Poet Ambassador, Johnnie Each, and Iowa Poet Laureate Debra Marquart. This event is live and in-person, and will be streamed live at: https://www.youtube.com/thelibrarychannel
Create a Creepy Costume for your Cherished Critter! Join author/illustrator Jennifer Black Reinhardt and the Sidekick Team for a SPOOKTACULAR costume party for you AND your stuffie! Jennifer will read her most recent picture book, Always by My Side and Sidekick will supply all sorts of crafty materials for you to create a costume for your stuffie!
In this session, two of Iowa's leading spiritual writers discuss their work. Spiritual writing is a growing subgenre in fiction as well as in memoir, poetry, meditations, and self-help. It may or may not be aligned with an organized religion, faith, belief system, or philosophy, yet all spiritual writing seeks to discover human truths and also typically
Special Collections & Archives is home to the Thomas Ollive Mabbott Papers, an intriguing collection of materials compiled by Mabbott, who was editor of the Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe. The papers include sources and inspirations for Poe’s work, first printings, and more. See select items up close before meeting the master of Gothic horror himself,
Jerald Walker, author of the 2020 National Book Award finalist How to Make a Slave and Other Essays, will discuss that work and more. For the black community, Jerald Walker asserts in How to Make a Slave, “anger is often a prelude to a joke, as there is broad understanding that the triumph over this destructive emotion lay
Sit in on a one-of-a-kind conversation with Iowa Writers’ Workshop director and renowned novelist Lan Samantha Chang (93MFA), who will chat with host Charity Nebbe, of Iowa Public Radio’s Talk of Iowa, and read from her most recent book, The Family Chao. Oprah Daily Insider recognized Chang as one of eight women writers changing the world—and The Family Chao appeared
Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp will moderate a conversation about Identity: In Fiction and in Life, with New York Times bestselling authors John Irving and Jason Reynolds. The event will include an open chat, but no live Q&A. We are accepting a limited number of pre-submitted questions from the registrants. This is a free,
ICON is an annual science fiction convention held in the Cedar Rapids/ Iowa City area of Iowa since 1975, usually in late October or early November, under the auspices of the Mindbridge Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation also responsible for AnimeIowa and Gamicon. The organization was a branching off of the Science Fiction League of Iowa
Established in 2003, the purpose of All Iowa Reads is to foster a sense of unity through reading. Iowans are encouraged to come together in their communities to read and talk about a single book title in the same calendar year. The 2022 All Reads selection is Rachel Mans McKenny's The Butterfly Effect.
Hear some of this years’ International Writing Program residents read from their work. Readers TBA.
A reading and conversation with Rebecca Rukeyser in celebration of the release of her book The Seaplane on Final Approach. She will be joined in conversation by Rachel Yoder.
Country singer Margo Price will read from and talk about her new memoir, Maybe We'll Make It.
Hear some of this years’ International Writing Program residents read from their work. Readers TBA.
Celebrate NaNoWriMo Community Writing Center at Iowa City Public Library
