Book Club Run of The Beauty of Your Face with Sahar Mustafah

Join Read & Run Chicago guide and Associate Professor at Valparaiso University George Potter for an easy-paced (11:00 min/mile), 4-mile guided run in Bridgeview, a Southwest Chicago suburb with one of the highest concentrations of Palestinian Americans.

Inspired by Sahar Mustafah's coming-of-age novel set in fictitious Tempest, Illinois, , you'll discuss the novel and learn about the real-life situations facing Palestinian-Americans in the Chicago suburbs highlighted in the text, including domestic and international migration and post-9/11 surveillance of Palestinians in Chicago.

Following the route, we'll meet with author Sahar Mustafah at Al Bawadi (7216 W. 87th, Bridgeview) for an intimate meet-and-greet. Light bites are included in the ticket and additional food will also be available for purchase.

A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to humanitarian relief in Gaza.

In addition to Sahar Mustafah’s novel, runners are also invited to read by Loren D. Lybarger.

*Please note: this novel contains graphic descriptions of violence and islamaphobia. Please take care of yourself.

Here's what else you need to know:

PREPARE: For the best experience, we strongly recommend reading Sahar Mustafah's prior to attending this event. We encourage you to borrow a copy from your local branch of the Chicago Public Library (here's how to get a card if you don't have one). If you prefer to purchase the book, please visit your favorite indie bookstore or order online at our bookshop.org store.

MEET: Please arrive at Al Bawadi (7216 W. 87th, Bridgeview) between 9:40am-10am on Saturday, November 23. You'll check-in, write a name tag, and mingle with other readers & runners. Our program will begin promptly at 10:00am and the route will take off by 10:10am. Any late arrivals after 10:10am should wait at Al Bawadi until the group returns.

TRANSPORTATION: This event is in Bridgeview, a suburb 15 miles southwest of the city. We recommend arriving by car. Public transportation options include CTA Orange Line to Midway, followed by either a Pace bus or rideshare to the start/end location at Al Bawadi.

ROUTE: We will run an easy-paced (11:00 min/mile), ~4-mile route with several stops. Not planning to run? Cyclists, rollers, rollerblades, scooters, and more welcome (take care of your own safety, please!). Please note, there are no Divvy bikes on this route.

END: After the 4-mile guided run, we'll end at Al Bawadi (7216 W. 87th, Bridgeview) for light bites and an intimate meet-and-greet with author Sahar Mustafah. You'll have the chance to ask lots of questions, so prep accordingly! If you'd like to purchase additional food, you will be welcome to do so at this time.

All registered readers & runners will receive reminder emails and details 2 days and 4 hours prior to the event.

About your guest : George Potter (he/him) is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at Valparaiso University. His teaching includes courses in global drama, Middle Eastern Cinemas, Arab and Muslim American cultures, and Playwriting. His current research focuses on Islamophobia in liberal responses to the war on terror. His directing credits include a production of Jamil Khoury's play Mosque Alert at Valparaiso University and a staged reading of Fawzia Afzal-Khan's play Jihad Against Violence: Oh ISIS Up Yours! at Silk Road Rising in Chicago. Before all of that, he was a runner.

INCLEMENT WEATHER PLAN: If it becomes unsafe to run outside, we will hold an alternative version of the event indoors beginning at 10am. You will be notified via email no later than 8am on Saturday, November 23 if there are any changes to the event as listed here.

Read & Run Chicago is a chapter of Read & Run Tours, the country’s first and only organization that hosts running events inspired by books. Founded in 2021 by queer educator, freelance writer, and runner Allison Yates, the mission of Read & Run Tours, LLC and the city chapters is to use movement and stories to explore locations. Our community-focused run programming includes running tours, book club runs, author talks, and other literary-themed fun runs all inspired by books set in the cities where chapters are located, written by local authors. While connecting runners to the city’s stories, we also actively support literacy programs, public libraries, independent bookstores, and local authors.

In Chicago, we have hosted more than 60 events (in English and Spanish) for over 300 Chicagoans, featuring over 30 authors or local experts, and we have been featured in various media outlets including CNN, Runner’s World, Midwest Living, NBC’s Chicago Today, Fox32 Good Day Chicago, WGN Radio, Block Chicago, and more.

More information at readandrunchicago.com, Instagram, and Facebook.

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