We get together every month to discuss a book from our Radical Reading Room – a library we’ve set up in collaboration with Pluto Press and The Left Book Club. It’s an informal group and everyone is welcome, so pop down and chat about some timely political topics.

We get together every month to discuss a book from our Radical Reading Room – a library we’ve set up in collaboration with Pluto Press and The Left Book Club. It’s an informal group and everyone is welcome, so pop down and chat about some timely political topics.

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Each months book will be confirmed ahead of time. Details for this month's book are below:

Voices of the Nakba - A Living History of Palestine

Edited by Diana Allan

***Winner of an English PEN Award 2021***

During the 1948 war more than 750,000 Palestinian Arabs fled or were violently expelled from their homes by Zionist militias. The legacy of the Nakba - which translates to 'disaster' or 'catastrophe' - lays bare the violence of the ongoing Palestinian plight.

Voices of the Nakba collects the stories of first-generation Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, documenting a watershed moment in the history of the modern Middle East through the voices of the people who lived through it.

The interviews, with commentary from leading scholars of Palestine and the Middle East, offer a vivid journey into the history, politics and culture of Palestine, defining Palestinian popular memory on its own terms in all its plurality and complexity.

About The Author
Diana Allan is Associate Professor of Anthropology at McGill University. She is a filmmaker and the co-founder of the Nakba Archive. Her ethnography, Refugees of the Revolution: Experiences of Palestinian Exile, (Stanford University Press, 2013) won the MEMO Palestine academic book award and the American Anthropological Association, Middle East Section Award.

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About the facilitator: Sarah Autumn‍

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Sarah Autumn is a Leeds based activist and creative community organiser. She's part of the extended Left bank family and has agreed to run the Radical Reading Group in 2023. Sarah will work with Pluto Press, Left Book Club and the Radical Reading group members to select and study each book ahead of the meet ups.

Reading Room FAQ’s

How often is the reading room?

There is a Radical Reading Room at Left Bank every 4-6 weeks. Every group is held on a Wednesday evening at 6.30pm as part of our Creative Wednesdays. The group is held in the main Left Bank space or in one of the caravans outside as the evenings are lighter and warmer.

What time is the reading room?

The reading room starts at 6.30pm.

Between 6.30-6.45 you will have time to arrive, get a drink and acquaint yourself with the group. We wrap up by 8pm.

How much does the Reading Room cost?

The Radical Reading Group is free to attend.

There will always be at least one copy of the book available in the library to borrow.
If you do wish to buy the book from Pluto Press, you will receive a 40% discount code. To get the code, please email sarahaautumn@gmail.com once you have booked your ticket.

Do I have to read the whole book?

Whilst you may find the reading group more enjoyable if you have read the book, it isn’t essential. You can come along to listen and learn about the book or discuss the broader ideas within the book. Sarah will highlight passages and quotes to discuss. You will also receive some information about the book and author in your reminder email.

Can I suggest a book?

Yes! We would love to hear your suggestions. It is worth keeping in mind though that this reading group is in collaboration with Pluto Press and Left Book Club so it does need to be a book within one of those two catalogues. Fortunately that gives you lots of awesome books to choose from.

Pluto Press Books
Left Book Club Books

At the end of each group, we discuss books for the following meet up and usually agree one then. The book selection will be added to the event listing on the Left Bank Website, Leeds Inspired and social media.

Can I borrow other books from the Library?

YES! The Radical Reading Room Library at Left Bank is available for all!