A Different Kind of Book Club.

The monthly Book Club - with Vivian Avraamidou-Ploumbis

The monthly CIBCA Book Club in The Three Fiddles is always a relaxed affair. Unlike other clubs, we don’t all read the same book and then come together to discuss it. Quite the opposite - we all read whatever we enjoy and then come along to share our recommendations. Each person brings a book they have read recently and tells the group a little about it.

Once everyone has shared, we enjoy discussing the titles and swapping copies. There’s never any pressure; people often come along without a book to share, just hoping to find a new recommendation. As always, the discussions are helped along with the ubiquitous pint of Guinness (other beers are available!) or a glass of wine.

This month, however, we were treated to something a little more formal. We were joined by Vivian Avraamidou-Ploumbis, Prague resident and author of 14 books, who gave a presentation about her latest work, Haunting Voices.

The book is a collection of 73 short stories highlighting the tragedy and destruction of Famagusta in Cyprus. Following the 1974 invasion, the town was declared a ‘Forbidden Zone’. It was only reopened to visitors in 2020, subsequently becoming a bittersweet tourist attraction. Vivian shared the moving experience of revisiting the deserted ghost town of her childhood, which inspired the collection.

Each story in the book is accompanied by a photograph from Famagusta. Vivian shared her hope that these stories will resonate with readers and shine a light on the devastating effects of nationalism. Following her presentation, we spent time discussing the issues raised, drawing poignant similarities and differences with the history of the island of Ireland.

Vivian kindly distributed copies of her book and agreed to return to the Book Club this autumn to discuss the stories once we've all had an opportunity to read them.

Want a preview? You can read Story 51, Mr Socrates. If you would like to read more, come along to the next Book Club to borrow Haunting Voices - and perhaps even join us for the follow-up discussion this autumn!