BOOKCLUB: Join us for a Charity Bookclub and Buffet with best-selling author Louis de Bernières, raising money to support KODA the Rural Schools Transformation Network (Köy Okulları Değişim Ağı) - working to bring about positive change in eastern Anatolia.  Louis de Bernières' novel Birds Without Wings is set in Anatolia before the First World War. Inspired by the now-abandoned town of Kayakoy near Fethiye, the book follows the lives of ordinary Ottoman subjects, and in particular two young boys, from the Muslim and Christian communities. Louis has been a regular visitor to Turkey.

Louis will read from and talk about writing the book. The evening will be moderated by author, sociologist and documentary-maker Semra Eren-Nijhar and there will be opportunity to ask questions and discuss.  We highly recommend reading the novel before attending of course - though no one will check if you have!

BUFFET: You will be welcomed by a glass of wine and there will be a food buffet with a selection of Kibele’s delicious hot and cold meze to eat as we listen and talk.

SONG: Singer Olcay Bayir will join us to sing a couple of songs accompanied on guitar by Ignacio Monteverde. Her album Rüya – Dream was released on 29 March.  Rüya is a dream for a world where children have hope.  You can buy her new album here.

Profits from this event will be donated to KODA - the Turkish acronym for Köy Okulları Değişim Ağı - the Rural Schools Transformation Network - a team of passionate people working  with rural school teachers to bring about positive change in isolated eastern Anatolia, a place with many challenges and lack of shared solutions, but with some amazing and dedicated teachers. This connects with the Birds Without Wings theme of growing up in a small Anatolian town away from, but nonetheless affected by, world events.  Click to read about KODA. 
KODA is endorsed by the UK-based Turkey Mozaik charity. 

The ticket price is £40 (plus online booking fees)
You are welcome to select tickets at £50 or £60 below - the little extra will all go to support KODA.
Around half of the ticket price covers food, a drink and event expenses.

Kibele Restaurant is at 175-177 Great Portland St, London W1W 5PJ  https://kibelerestaurant.co.uk/

TIMING
7.00pm BUFFET
8.00pm BOOKCLUB WITH LOUIS DE BERNIERES
If you wish to eat please come in good time so that we can start the bookclub by 8pm. Seating is at tables. 

This event is organised by Kazum. See www.kazum.co.uk For more information call Ayşegül Merrick on 07966 452558.

LOUIS DE BERNIERES
Louis de Bernières is the bestselling author of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, which won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, Best Book in 1995. 

Birds Without Wings
"A more ambitious novel than Captain Corelli, and a better one" (Financial Times)
"A mesmerising patchwork of horror, humour and humanity" (Independent)

Synopsis Set against the backdrop of the collapsing Ottoman Empire, the Gallipoli campaign and the bitter struggle between Greeks and Turks, "Birds Without Wings" traces the fortunes of one small community in south-west Anatolia - a town in which Christian and Muslim lives and traditions have co-existed peacefully for centuries. When war is declared and the outside world intrudes, the twin scourges of religion and nationalism lead to forced marches and massacres, and the peaceful fabric of life is destroyed. Philothei, a Christian girl of legendary beauty, and Ibrahim the Goatherd who has courted her since infancy are but two of the many casualties. With the end of a community that once transcended religious differences, their great love seems destined to end in tragedy and madness...