Thursday 01 September 2022 19:00
In August, young book lovers of the Cultural Center’s Book Club will be reading Andri Snær Magnason’s Blue Planet.
On Thursday 1 September young readers will meet with Book Club facilitator Artemis Manou to share impressions, feelings and thoughts, as well as to embark on an imaginary journey, sparked by the book of the month, into the fascinating worlds emerging from its pages.
The book Far away in space, in another galaxy, there is a blue planet inhabited only by children who are absolutely free to do whatever they want! Until one day, a rocket ship piloted by a strange-looking adult named Gleesome Goodday crashes on the beach and promises them that he can make their every wish come true: for example, their wish to be able to fly. And not only that, but he claims he is also capable to do away with night altogether, so that children won’t need to sleep anymore and will be able to just...keep on flying. Except, for all this to happen, the children need to pay him something in return...
How far would you go to make your wildest dreams come true? To learn to fly? To get rid of rainy days once and for all? To sleep whenever you want and eat whatever you want? What, if anything, would you be willing to give in exchange for all of that?
With this book for August, an ecological fairy tale, as it has been described, we are taking a journey to a faraway place, an imaginary planet, in order to get to know it, live there for a while, and face up to its challenges! And perhaps, by taking this trip, we can learn something about ourselves and our planet!
Writer Andri Snær Magnason was born in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1973. He studied literature and has written short stories, poems, novellas and theatrical plays. He has been honored with the Icelandic Literary Prize, both for fiction for adults and children and for non-fiction. His books are available in more than 30 countries and have been honored with numerous awards. His book Blue Planet has earned several significant honors. It was the first children’s book to receive the Icelandic Literary Prize and has been translated, or adapted as a theatrical play, in 30 countries.
His book Tímakistan – The Time Casket received the same award, as well as the Booksellers’ Award for 2013. His book LoveStar was awarded the Philip K. Dick award in 2013 and the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire in France in 2016. Magnason is politically engaged and an activist against the destruction of the Icelandic highlands. He lives in Reykjavik.
He has worked with many artists, such as pop star Bjork, in the campaign to draw international attention to the issue of the destruction of the Icelandic highlands. Magnason and Bjork are among the founders of an environmental group that works for the creation of a national park covering the entire region of the central Icelandic highlands. Available in Greek, from Patakis Publishers, are his books Tímakistan – The Time Casket and Blue Planet.
The facilitator:Artemis Manou holds a BA in Greek Language and Literature (Linguistics major) from the University of Athens and an MA in Teaching Greek as a Foreign/Second Language. In addition, she has graduated from the Drama School of Vassilis Diamantopoulos. After working for a few years in private education and as an actress, since 2009 she has been combining her love of theater and children, working as a motivational speaker and a theater director. She has co-operated with Onassis Stegi at the Youth Theater Festival, where she wrote theatrical plays and directed performances for teenagers, and at the experiential learning program “Contemporary Art: First you live... then you understand” that Onassis Stegi carried out in primary schools, where she organized workshops for creative expression on contemporary art stimuli together with Tzeni Argyriou, Andreas Kasapis and Myrto Tikof. Since 2017, she has been working at the National Theatre, facilitating workshops for children, teenagers and educators. She has authored a total of 15 plays for teens. A special place in her heart belongs to the National Theatre's program “Theater in Greek," with the participation of Greek and refugee teenagers. The theatrical play The Journey, which she co-authored with Vangelis Kyriakou, was included in the repertoire of the National Theatre Young People's Stage in 2018. She was born and lives in Athens. But she dreams of living in many other places too – together with her family.
Wednesday 1/09 | 19.00 MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN
Up to 22 participants | For children aged 7 to 10 Free participation by online pre-registration
Pre-registration starts on Monday 01/08, at 12.00
Children should always be accompanied by parents or adult attendants who should not be away from the outdoor activity.
To participate in the Reading Club, it is necessary for those who hold a position to have read the book of the month. (It is also useful to have it with them).
Andri Snær Magnason’s Blue Planet is available in Greek from Patakis Publishers.
As part of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center's collaboration with the National Library of Greece, the book for the Reading Club has been chosen by NLG staff members.
