Alvina Chamberland will be reading from, signing copies of, and answering questions about her new existential trans feminist autofiction novel "Love the World or Get Killed Trying" - recently listed in the legendary Shakespeare and Company in Paris's 121 Best Books of the 21st Century!!! 💘Named a Most Anticipated Book in Nylon, Them, Ms. Magazine, Autostraddle, San Francisco Chronicle, Bay Area Reporter, LGBTQ-reads, and Write or Die-Magazine. “Perhaps some hearts are so big they must constantly burst and break.” Through playful poetic prose, sharp social commentary and self-deprecating gallows humor Love the World or Get Killed Trying dives into the mind of Alvina, a trans woman on the eve of turning 30. The reader is invited to follow her journey through the breathtaking wilderness of Iceland and busy city boulevards of Berlin and Paris as she probes questions of eternity, sexuality, longing, death, love, and how hard it is to remain soft when you’re a ceaseless target of straight men’s secret lust and open disgust. This novel tackles universal issues through a trans woman’s specific lens – insisting on these experiences speaking to far more than just issues of sexuality and gender.

The very popular Trans* and Gender non-conforming poetry night is back for a late summer night session.

Join three Berlin writers to discuss their debut novels, and how the three stories intersect at a place of belonging. Leaving home, finding home, defining home: is it a place, a person, a culture, a taste of spice on your tongue? A place of resistance or acceptance? Robinson, Finkemeyer and Flett and talk about getting in where you fit in / fitting in where you get in, and where it all started for the three: in a writing group in Berlin.

First fall reading featuring poets Patty Nash and Adrienne Raphel and novelist Gurmeet Singh. Patty Nash's first book of poems, Walden Pond, was published in August of this year. Adrienne Raphel is the author of the poetry collections Our Dark Academia and What Was It For and the nonfiction Thinking Inside the Box: Adventures with Crosswords and the Puzzling People Who Can't Live Without Them. Raphel teaches writing at CUNY Baruch, and she is on faculty with the MFA programs at St. Joseph's University and the Mountainview MFA; she also teaches with the Berlin Writers' Workshop and is a mentor with the Periplus Collective. Gurmeet Singh is a writer and editor based in Berlin. His work has appeared in New England Review, Sand, Social Text Journal, and elsewhere, and was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize. He was a 2022 CRIT participant and is the founder of Writers of Colour Berlin, which organises regular events and readings around the city. His first novel is currently under consideration in the USA. Berlin Writer’s Workshop organises workshops, seminars, readings, and meetups from Berlin's open international writing community.

CONEHEADS and HIGHBROWS Part 1. Word'n'voice: Alexander vom Dorp, Ilia Kitup, Alistair Noon, Felipe Sáez Riquelme, Jordan Lee Schnee. Part 2. Word'n'paper: Felipe Sáez Riquelme "Objetos públicos/ Public Objects" (Spanish/ English) Sparrow "Songs My Mother Taught Me" (English/ Russian) Part 3. Word'n'sound: Jordan Lee Schnee "Il concertino settembrino"

A frantic love letter to love itself, Romeo & Seahorse is a sexy, frightening, tender, and visceral rush through Berlin’s chemsex scene. Nikolaj Tange Lange will read from the book and talk about some of the themes; love, desire, and addiction, and why Romeo and Juliet has more to say about chemsex than it does about love. Copies are available for advance purchase at ivallan’s if you want to read them ahead of the event and be part of the discussion. Nikolaj will sign your copy if you bring it 💚

The veteran historian, freelance journalist, tour guide and author reads from his newest book Revolutionary Berlin, an anticapitalist walking guide. Few European cities can boast a history as storied and tumultuous as that of Berlin. For more than 150 years it has been at the centre of revolutionary politics; of era-defining struggles between the Left and the Right. It has been bombed, rebuilt and carved in two. In Revolutionary Berlin, you can stand in the places where this history was written, and to follow in the footsteps of those who helped write it. Through nine self-guided tours illustrated with maps and photographs, readers enter the heady world of 19th century anti-colonial struggles, the 1918 November Revolution and the 1987 May Day riots — encountering the city's workers, queer community and radical women along the way. The first English-language guidebook to tell the story of Berlin's radical history, this is a must-have for Berliners and visitors alike. We will have the book for sale at the shop. Already own it? Bring it to get it signed! Plus: How Revolutionary are you? History Quiz with ivallan’s prizes!

Food&Thought is a book club for those who love to talk and eat, and to talk about eating. Whether feeling the most inspired from the kitchen or at the plate, this is the place to put some thought to food. Meeting once a quarter, this club will explore food literature through both nonfiction and fiction! Anyone can join, everyone is welcome. At the very first meeting we will discuss Nigella Lawson’s Eat, Cook, Repeat. The book can be ordered through ivallan's books or read at the shop so you're ready to be part of the discussion. In the spirit of Halloween, please bring your favourite treat to share 🎃 🍭 🥧 🍰 🍬 RSVP through the bio of @eatonistic on instagram.

A new edition of your fave trans* and gender non-conforming poetry night. Readers to be announced.

In December ivallan’s books will be celebrating our 3rd birthday and this year we want to celebrate the life of ivallan’s heart and vision, Ilya. On Sunday December 8th we will host a day of performances, readings & tributes with food and drinks in Ilya’s honour. This invitation goes out to friends and family, lovers, neighbours and anyone who has a special place in their heart for Ilya and for this little shop. Everyone is welcome. We will have food and drinks at the shop and ask those who can to contribute a dish of food to our buffet. Feel free to drop by last minute/anytime, but if you already know you are coming please RSVP through our bio (or message for link) if you so we can be sure to plan enough food and drinks and time for performances. We want to accommodate as many people as possible but we’re a small space (particularly in winter) so advance planning helps. Please help spread this invitation to everyone who knows and loves Ilya who might not use social media ❤️. Planned program: Sunday December 8th 12.00 -15.00 Kid-friendly time With fruit, alcohol-free Glühwein and cookies. Contributions to the buffet are welcome. The new version of our cat book mascot by @rorymidhani is presented 15.00 -17.00 In celebration of Ilya Readings, Speeches and Performances by friends and family. Music. Readings from the ivallan’s Ilya Zine. 17.00 - Potluck buffet Food and drinks and celebration continues. Contributions to the buffet are welcome. Looking forward to seeing you all there <3

Difficult Women Book Club is a book club for anyone who wants to discover books written by women and other FLINTA* authors. They are a global book club that started in Barcelona and now has chapters all over the world. 🌸 Once a month, they get together to dive into the world of literature, exploring both non-fiction and fiction! Anyone can join, everyone is welcome. Their first book will be I have never known men by Jacqueline Harpman. Please read or familiarise yourself with the book so that you're ready to discuss it when we meet. You can order it from Ivallan's books. Drinks and snacks will be available for a small donation. To join othe first meeting go to https://linktr.ee/dwbc_berlin You can also just write to @difficultwomenbookclub_berl.in for a link to join the WhatsApp Community.