Photos: Marino Author Speaks, Signs Books at Lau Open House

Egyptian-Canadian journalist and author Omar El Akkad points to crowd while speaking at podium.

This year’s edition of the Marino Family International Writers' Academic Workshop featured award-winning author Omar El Akkad and his acclaimed novel, “What Strange Paradise.” First-year students were encouraged to read El Akkad’s novel before attending an in-person lecture by the author on August 27, 2024 in McDonough Arena.

During his lecture, El Akkad spoke on the complicated feelings he encountered writing the novel, his experiences growing up in Qatar, his time as a photojournalist reporting from Afghanistan, and the limits of embracing empathy in lieu of behavioral change. He was then interviewed by three Georgetown students who asked about his writing process and engagement with social issues through literature before fielding questions from the audience.

The next day, El Akkad appeared at Lauinger Library’s open house during New Student Orientation, spending more than three hours signing copies of his books and conversing with excited students about their reactions to his work.

As the author signed books in Pierce Reading Room, librarians and library staff led fun activities with students, teaching them about essential library resources and services with a trivia wheel, button-making station, and tables full of historic materials that are part of the Booth Family Center for Special Collections.

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Author Omar El-Akkad sits across from three student interviewers.
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A large crowd of students gather in McDonaugh Hall, looking off-screen toward the speaker.
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A male student in a t-shirt and jeans stands at a microphone in McDonaugh Hall to ask the speaker a question with a line of other students behind him.
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A smiling man holds a sheet of trivia questions next to a spinning wheel marked with different potential prizes.
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Author Omar El-Akkad smiles while signing a student's book and engaging her in conversation.
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A female student smiles while interacting with a library staff member asking her trivia questions.
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A student's hand presses down on a machine to make a button.
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A bearded man leans over a table, telling students about various historic materials laid out across it.