It is not often you open a book and find yourself in a story about Birmingham, let alone in parts of the city that aren’t typically represented in literary fiction because they are full of working-class stories. Join Birmingham born writers Kasim Ali and Keiran Goddard as they offer us stories of Alum Rock and Shard End that think about the ways the places we are from shape us and the trajectory of our lives.

Kasim Ali’s Who Will Remain follows Amir as he enters university and meets peers whose versions of life outside of Alum Rock – money, freedom – lead him to make choices in his own life that have huge consequences.

Keiran Goddard’s I See Buildings Fall Like Lighting follows five friends as they attempt to make lives for themselves on an estate in Shard End and wrestles with the question of how we adapt when our lives don’t end up as we planned.

Chaired by Shantel Edwards.

Sponsored by Birmingham City University.