Call & Response Books
Join us on Wednesday, August 5 at 7 PM as we celebrate the release of Dawn Turner's newest novel, Majestic Hills! Q&A and signing to follow discussion! Dawn will be joined in conversation by Chicago architecture critic and photographer Lee Bey.
Our monthly Canto-Kójo open mic, run by our friends Itiola “I.S.” Jones and Yazud Brito-Milan! All are welcome to attend and share a poem, song, or other creative work! The night’s featured reader will be Meghan Malachi! Sliding scale admission, suggested $5!
Discussion of Good People by Patmeena Sabit will be held on Thursday, July 23 at 7 p.m.! You can pick up a copy of the book from Call & Response (all book club books also receive a 10% discount at checkout) or your local library branch! See you there!
Join us on Wednesday, July 22 as we welcome writer, editor, and cultural critic Jamilah Lemieux in celebration of her new book Black. Single. Mother: Real Life Tales of Longing and Belonging! (This event was previously scheduled for Wednesday, April 29). Jamilah will be joined in conversation by Ariel DeNey Rainey, the founder of HustleMommies, who have generously provided refreshments for the event.
We're celebrating the release of Shirlene Obuobi's new romance novel, Die For Me! Join us for a celebration of Shirelene Obuobi's newest steamy romance, Die For Me! Shirlene will be joined in conversation by authors Ali Hazelwood and Nikki Payne, with Q&A and book signing to follow! Please note that this event will take place at Wilson Abbey, 935 W. Wilson Ave. Chicago, IL 60640. Attendees can select a ticket option that includes a copy of Die for Me. Copies of Ali Hazelwood and Nikki Payne's books will also be available for purchase on-site during the event.
We're celebrating bestselling romance author Kristina Forest's latest book, The Summer Girlfriend! On Saturday, June 20 at 5 PM, we're celebrating the release of bestelling (and store favorite) author Kristina Forest's latest book, The Summer Girlfriend! Kristina will be joined in conversation by Chicago-area romance author Danielle Jackson! Q&A and signing to follow discussion.
We're welcoming dark fantasy author Granger to the shop in celebration of the re-release of The First Family! Granger will be joined in conversation by Storm of @blackgirltiredbooksanddrinks, with Q&A and signing to follow!
Let’s celebrate Black women in food with a potluck at Black woman-owned bookstore Call and Response, by cooking together from one of four cookbooks authored by Black women in food! This fundraiser will be to fund materials for Azadi Folk School’s fall African-American folk art classes, including quilting and woodworking! If you'd like to support Azadi Folk School but can't come to the potluck, you can donate here! Receipts will note the donation as going to Women Unite!, our fiscal sponsor. We also want to show some love to Black-owned bookstore Call and Response Books as they navigate ongoing gentrification and a big-box bookstore opening in Hyde Park. So if you buy the book from Call and Response and email a copy of your receipt to info@azadifolkschool.com, you’ll be entered into a raffle to win prizes! We want to see all of our community there, but know that not everyone has the time or space to cook. So if you want to attend but won’t be able to cook, choose that ticket option so the Azadi team can prepare some dishes to ensure there is enough food for everyone! Two weeks before the potluck, we will send out a shared spreadsheet to attendees detailing what everyone is cooking so choosing recipes can be simpler. Hope to see you there!
Join us as we welcome TV writer, producer, and novelist Rasheed Newson in celebration of his newest novel There's Only One Sin in Hollywood! On Thursday, June 11, we'll be welcoming Rasheed Newson for a discussion of his newest novel, There's Only One Sin in Hollywood, a sharp-witted and cinematic novel following a backlot fixer's investigation into the suspicious death of a closeted Black actor, set against the backdrop of glamorous Hollywood. Rasheed will be joined in conversation with Michael LaBorn, founder of Left Unread Books. Q&A and book signing will follow discussion.
Enjoy the sunshine and warmth of spring with an audiobook walk hosted in conjunction with Libro.fm and led by our dear friend Cynthia Okechukwu, founder of Black Girls Read book club! The walk will begin and end at Call & Response, taking a stroll around our lovely Hyde Park neighborhood!
We're welcoming author Dur e Aziz Amna for a discussion of her newest novel, A Splintering, on June 3 at 7 PM! Join us for a discussion of author Dur e Aziz Amna's latest book, A Splintering! Dure will be joined in conversation by Chicago author Faisal Mohyuddin! Q&A and book signing to follow!
Join us for a discussion of Kemi Doll's new book, A Terrible Strength: The Hidden Crisis of the Black Womb & Your Survival Guide to Healing! On Tuesday, June 2 at 7 PM, surgeon and healthcare advocate Dr. Kemi Doll will be visiting Call & Response Books to discuss her latest book, A Terrible Strength: The Hidden Crisis of the Black Womb & Your Survival Guide to Healing! Chicago newscaster Samantha Chatman will be joining Dr. Doll in conversation. Q&A and signing to follow!
Join us as we welcome National Book Award finalist 'Pemi Aguda for a discussion of her new novel, One Leg on Earth! Q&A and book signing to follow discussion!
Join us as we welcome award-winning poet Noel Quiñones in celebration of their latest collection, Orange! Noel Quiñones will be joined in conversation with Chicago poet Tara Betts for a discussion of Noel's latest poetry collection, Orange! Q&A and discussion to follow.
Join us for a discussion of Wesley Brown's historical fiction novel, Looking for Frank Wills! Welsey will be joined in conversation by radio host and author Quincy McCoy. Q&A and book signing to follow discussion!
Azadi Folk School is revisiting this classic novel and international bestseller by writer, journalist, and activist Arundhati Roy. For our month of nostalgia, we’re revisiting this classic novel and international bestseller by writer, journalist, and activist Arundhati Roy. Weaving through time, the story is a family epic set in Kerala that explores casteism, colonialism, and how both have restricted who is allowed to love, and how they are allowed to love. Through fraternal twins Rahel and Estha. we see the story of a family touched by India’s “Love Laws,” and how they’ve navigated them.
Revel in the spoken and written word at our monthly open mic night hosted by Chicago poets I.S. Jones and Yazud Brito-Milan! All experience levels are welcome--bring anything you'd like to share, or just come to listen!