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Mark Morrison-Reed
visited the bookshop to talk about and read from his book, "In between: Memoir
of an integration baby".
Born
on
the
South
Side of Chicago, grew up in the era of the Civil Rights Movement. He
also lived in Switzerland for 3 years
as a teenager in the Sixties, at a time when black faces were not a
common sight. Mark regaled us with funny episodes from his time here,
and moved us with his experience of being caught between two very
different worlds.
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Daniela Norris and
Shireen
Anabtawi celebrated the launch of their book "Crossing Qalandiya"
at
OffTheShelf.
Daniela is
Israeli and Shireen is Palestinian; their book is a
collection of letters they wrote to each other which offer an insight
into the
conflict between their countries and the way friendship can transcend
such things. It is fascinating for anyone interested
in the history and politics of the Middle East, as well being a moving
portrait of
two strong and intelligent women from very different backgrounds who
became friends against the odds.
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American poet Cecilia Woloch, Professor of
English and
Comparative
Literature at USC, read from and talked about her latest
poetry collection, "Carpathia".
Cecilia has worked on many 'outreach' projects with
children, homeless women, and prison inmates. She has directed several
creative writing workshops, and has five publications and numerous
awards to her name.
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Matthew
Stevenson,
essayist and newspaper and radio contributor, read from and talked
about his latest
book, "Remembering
the
twentieth
century
limited". Just published, this collection of travel essays weaves
together a historical tapestry of the last 100 years. From the
battlefields of Gallipoli and those around Armenia, to Cold War
Washington and modern Beirut, he has written a compelling, yet often
humorous and always accessible account of persons and places
encountered in his travels.
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Mokki Blans was in
our bookshop for a Question and Answer session based on her recent book
"My story",
which tells the story of her life and her family as well as her
relationship with a difficult mother, in Holland. Her personal tales of
the Netherlands during World War Two were moving and the sheer range of
experiences she has come through is amazing.
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Kamy Lavanchy was in
the bookshop giving a presentation based around the work
of Louise Hay, author of "Power is within you".
Kamy
is
a
licensed
Heal
Your
Life teacher and usually
charges a fee for her workshops, so this was a special opportunity to
gain an insight into her work on self-empowerment.
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Lucy Harmer was in
the bookshop presenting her two recently published books on
Shamanic astrology and animal spirit signs: "Shamanic
astrology: Understanding your spirit animal sign"and "Discovering your
spirit animal: The wisdom of the shamans". Lucy explained
the themes behind her books and even brought along a drum and burned
sage to help
draw out everyone's own inner animal!
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Flo Regina was in the
bookstore signing copies of her
book "Paradise
(apparently): Welcome to Switzerland". A new book about life in
Switzerland, seen through the eyes of a bemused Italian trying to adapt
to her new home. Whether you have just moved to Geneva or have lived
here for years, you'll find yourself laughing at her experiences.
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Brigitte Kehrer
held a workshop in the bookstore around the themes of her
book "Art of
conflict". Discussions and role play brought her book to life
and showed how to apply the lessons to all aspects of personal
and professional life.
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Lord Paddy Ashdown
was in the bookshop signing copies of his autobiography "A fortunate life",
an
account
of
his
time
as
an
officer
in
the
Royal
Marine
Commandos,
a
member
of
the
Special
Boat
Service,
a
diplomat,
an
MP
and leader of his
party, and an international peacemaker in war-torn Bosnia. Fascinating,
revealing, honest and moving, the book is perfect reading for anyone
interested in politics, diplomacy, the military, or the life of an
extraordinary man.
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Irene Sabatini
launched her
novel "The
boy
next
door". Set against the backdrop of a Zimbabwe in turmoil,
the novel has already generated a great deal of international media
interest.
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As part of the Fureur
de Lire book festival,
OffTheShelf presented a selection of books on the theme of
'bilingualism'. Jacqueline Cooper
signed copies of her bilingual books for
children, "Toby
and the Escalade" and "Cat day", and
Mavis Guinard's bilingual "Petit guide de la
Suisse insolite" was presented by a member of her editorial
team.
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Brigitte Kehrer,
international
reconciliation expert with many years' experience in the UN, in Africa
and Asia and around the world, launched her
new book "Art of
conflict: Or how to stay zen". The book is an
accessible, practical manual that will help anyone find a positive
approach to conflict, whether in their personal or professional lives.
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Francesca Prescott celebrated the recent launch of
her novel "Mucho
caliente",
a
sizzling
novel
set
in Ibiza. A funny, romantic,
engaging read for summer, in which a 37 year old divorcee gets more
than she bargained for when she finds herself sitting next to a Latino
pop heart throb on the plane!
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Zimbabwean author Petina Gappah launched her debut
collection of stories published by
Faber: "Elegy
for Easterly: Stories". Called "the voice of Zimbabwe", Gappah
manages to capture the lives of ordinary people caught up in the
hardship of present-day Zimbabwe. Compelling, unflinching and tender,
the result is a stunning portrait of a country in chaotic meltdown.
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Arthur Smith, one of
the UK's top stand-up comedians well known for his part in the Grumpy
Old Men, signed copies of "My name is Daphne
Fairfax", an hilarious, scandalous and downright rude
autobiography.
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Children's author Kelly Fischer
read from her stories for 2-5 year olds and
5-8 year olds (10.50am).
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New Zealander Robyn Scott read from and signed
copies of "Twenty
chickens
for
a
saddle", her account of growing up in rural Botswana
with her rather eccentric family.
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New York Times bestselling author Susan Jane
Gilman read from and signed copies of her latest book "Undress me in the
temple of heaven".
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Renowned
Native-American
author Gerald Vizenor read from and signed copies of his latest novel "Father Meme",
as well as some of his poetry collections.
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Kerry-Jane Lowery
presented her new book on the ATLAS experiment at CERN, "Exploring the
mystery of matter". This beautiful coffee table book puts a highly
scientific subject within reach of the general reader.
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To celebrate Chinese New Year, Ellen Wallace came
to present her book on China and her experiences there, "China: On the
ground".
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Robin Coupland, war surgeon and artist, was in the
bookshop to sign copies of the book accompanying an exhibition of his
works, "XYXX".
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To celebrate the recent release of his latest
book, "April across America", Matthew Stevenson came to read extracts
and answer questions about his travel essays.
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To celebrate publication of her latest book on
writing, Susan Tiberghien read and talked about the writer's craft and
signed copies of "One year to a writing life".
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Published in a recent anthology, "More Tonto short
stories", Daniela Norris came to read from her short stories and talk
about how to approach publishers.
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Respected human rights expert Andrew Clapham
launched his new book "Human rights: A very short introduction" at
OffTheShelf.
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David Forsythe, renowned international relations
expert and author of "Humanitarians" came to read at OffTheShelf.
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Canadian author Lauren Davis came to the bookshop
to read from her prize-nominated "Radiant city".
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We held a Valentine's Day reading with Vatsala
Virdee, who read from her novel "Rubies and rickshaws".
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Gail Mangold-Vine launched her new book "Coaching"
during International Coaching week.
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William Benton came to OffTheShelf to read from
his novel "Madly".
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Marlene Jeanrenaud read from her collection of
campfire stories "Magic of Africa".
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We celebrated the launch of Helena Bachmann's
first novel, "Teeth in a pickle jar", just before she set off on a book
tour in the USA.
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Anthony Doerr, bestselling author of "About
Grace", talked about his novel and short story techniques.
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Susan Jane Gilman, New York Times bestselling
author, read from her latest book "Hypocrite in a pouffy white dress".
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Cecilia Woloch, American poet and teacher, was
special guest at our poetry evening.
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Achmat Dangor, celebrated South African writer,
read from his novel "Bitter Fruit" which was shortlisted for the Booker
Prize 2004.
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Jane Alison, an American writer nominated for the
2005 IMPAC Dublin award, came to read one of her short stories and talk
about her novels including "Natives and exotics".
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Annick Stevenson and George Gordon-Lennox, authors
of a biography of Sergio Vieira de Mello, came to talk about the man
himself and the process of putting together the book.
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The launch of local author Zeki Ergas' latest
book, "From the Balkans to Asia Minor", a family saga set in the
Balkans of the 1920s.
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OffTheShelf proudly supported the photography
exhibition "Tales from a globalizing world", on the effects of
globalization, held at the HEI Institute and in the Salle Communale de
Plainpalais, by supplying the English version of the accompanying book.
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