Chapters & Conversations reading Under the Eye of the Big Bird -London Book Club

Under the Eye of the Big Bird - Hiromi Kawakami

Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2025!

In the distant future, humans are on the verge of extinction and have settled in small tribes across the planet under the observation and care of the Mothers. Some children are made in factories, from cells of rabbits and dolphins; some live by getting nutrients from water and light, like plants. The survival of the race depends on the interbreeding of these and other alien beings - but it is far from certain that connection, love, reproduction, and evolution will persist among the inhabitants of this faltering new world.

Unfolding over geological eons, Under the Eye of the Big Bird is at once an astonishing vision of the end of our species as we know it and a meditation on the qualities that, for better and worse, make us human.

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Chapters & Conversations is a space for fiction lovers to connect over great stories and lively chats!

Whether you’re into literary fiction, contemporary novels, or fantasy worlds, we’re here to explore it all together. We’re hoping to meet fellow bookworms who enjoy getting lost in a good story and are open to sharing thoughts, laughs, and recommendations.

At each event, we’ll dive into a chosen book, chat about characters, themes, and twists - above all, it’s about community, curiosity, and a shared love of reading!

Stasia and Yana:)