16th project days "Reading against violence" in the city library
Author Manfred Theisen reads from his novel "Checkpoint Europe", a refugee story about a young Syrian - from 8 to 10 November
From 8 to 10 November, Cologne-based young adult author Manfred Theisen will be presenting his latest novel "Checkpoint Europa - Flucht in ein neues Leben" (Checkpoint Europe - Escape to a New Life) to pupils in Chemnitz as part of the 16th "Reading against Violence" project days.
The book tells the story of Basil, a young boy who had to flee from Syria to Germany and is trying to find his feet here. However, he not only lost his parents in the war, but also the love of his life, Sahra. He and she were separated during the flight. So he sets off in search of her. He is joined by journalist Tobias, who sticks by him to write a novel. However, Basil soon realises that the search is a gamble, because the ghosts of the past are breathing down his neck...
Manfred Theisen tells the story of how a young Syrian refugee manages to arrive in Germany as a road movie and love story. It mirrors the biographies of many young refugees.
In addition to the reading, the young listeners are given an insight into the research that Manfred Theisen carried out on site and the construction of the text. The author also takes a closer look at the topics of integration and migration.
Manfred Theisen was born in Cologne in 1962. He studied German, English and politics, spent two years researching for the German Ministry of the Interior in the Soviet Union, worked as an editor and managed a newspaper editorial office in Cologne.
The author of books for young people has been a lifelong advocate for refugees: During his studies, he supported an Ethiopian who had fled to Germany, later he took care of Russian-Germans. As a political scientist and editor, he is an expert on the Arab world. Today he lives as a freelance author in Cologne.(www.manfredtheisen.de)
The project was initiated by the association Förderer der Stadtbibliothek Chemnitz e.V. and is funded by the Local Action Plan for Democracy, Tolerance and a Cosmopolitan Chemnitz (LAP).
Dates:
Wednesday, 8 November, 9 a.m.
District library in the Yorck area, Scharnhorststr. 11
Wednesday, 8 November, 11.40 a.m.
Location: Einsiedel Grammar School, Niederwaldstr. 11
Thursday, 9 November, 9 am and 11 am
Location: Central Library in the TIETZ, event hall, Moritzstr. 20
Friday, 10 November, 9 a.m.
Location: District library in the Vita Centre