IN COCONUT GROVE: German Writers on the Road to Read

Books & Books in Coconut Grove is proud to present an evening with Sonali Beher and Iven Yorick Fenker, two visiting German writers and students at the German Institute for Literature Leipzig.

This event will take place at Books & Books in Coconut Grove. RSVP is free, but please only register if you intend to join us as space is limited.

ON THE ROAD / UNTERWEGS

UNTERWEGS is being realized by the Goethe-Institut USA in cooperation with the German Literature Institute Leipzig and under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Ulrike Draesner.

Writings, Reflections, and Conversations Along the U.S. East CoastAn initiative by the Goethe-Institut USAas part of the campaign ‘Among Friends’ (Unter Freunden)

Two authors from Germany – Sonali Beher and Iven Yorick Fenker, both students at the German Institute for Literature Leipzig – travel along the East Coast of the United States from New York to Florida and then to Texas. Along the way, they engage with diverse audiences through readings, discussions, and conversations held in a range of venues: bookstores, schools, libraries, universities, businesses, and more. Throughout their journey, the authors share their impressions in real time: through notes, essays, and visual content for social media and websites.

Reading & Conversation at Books & Books Miami

As part of the Goethe-Institut’s ON THE ROAD project, Sonali Beher and Iven Yorick Fenker will present their work at Books & Books in Miami. The evening will feature readings in English and German, followed by a conversation moderated by Oliver Gorf.

Join us for an engaging literary evening that explores themes of identity, culture, and transatlantic exchange — with time for questions, discussion, and connection.

ON THE ROAD/ UNTERWEGS is a distinctive literary initiative designed to revitalize the transatlantic partnership for a new generation and to deepen cultural exchange between Germany and the United States. In collaboration with the German Institute for Literature Leipzig, this project celebrates the power of storytelling across borders. It is held under the esteemed patronage of Professor Dr. Ulrike Draesner.

About the Authors:

Sonali Beher, born in 1997 in Gießen, Germany, studied English and Political Science in Heidelberg before beginning her studies in Literary Writing at the German Institute for Literature Leipzig in 2023. Alongside her academic work, she supports NGOs dedicated to strengthening democracy. Beher writes across genres, including prose, essays, poetry, and dramatic texts, with a focus on how the personal and political intersect. Her writing often explores themes such as German identity, womanhood, and labor. In 2024, her short play Mensch mit Kopf was staged at the Kabinetttheater in Vienna, Austria.

Iven Yorick Fenker, born in 1994, grew up in the Harz region of Germany, an area once divided by the inner-German border and often the setting for his writing. His work explores themes of masculinity, fascism, football, and love. He is currently studying at the German Institute for Literature Leipzig and works as a writer, filmmaker, and journalist, contributing to outlets such as DIE ZEIT in Berlin. His text Dornen Donner Stoßgebet was nominated for the “Wortmeldungen Förderpreis” award. His film die kastanie was screened at several festivals and won the Youth Jury Prize at the Vienna Shorts in 2025.

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