{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Writers Unlimited","title":"Book of my Life: Simon(e) van Saarloos on 'Freshwater' by Akwaeke Emezi","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1494,"description":"This is the Book of My Life podcast, in which writers talk about their favorite book: the book that inspires or moves them, and that has shaped their artistic, moral, or intellectual compass. In short, the book they would recommend to everyone. This podcast is a rebroadcast of the live program, part of the annual Writers Unlimited International Literature Festival in The Hague.\nIn this series of the Book of My Life podcast, we bring back recent conversations recorded during the Writers Unlimited International Literature Festival 2026 in The Hague.\n\nIn this episode, Simon(e) van Saarloos chose as favourite book Freshwater (2018), debut novel by Nigerian writer Akwaeke Emezi. It tells the semi-autobiographical story of the protagonist, known to the reader as 'The Ada'. The main narratorial voice of the novel is ogbanje, deities from Igbo religion, that occupy the Ada, and manifests in multiple distinct and characterised personalities, both helpful and antagonistic.\n\nThis podcast is released in connection with the upcoming Writers Unlimited International Literature Festival (21–24 January 2027). Listen to the podcast here or on your favorite podcast platform.\n\nAbout Writers Unlimited\nEvery year, more than one hundred authors, poets, spoken word artists, and musicians take part in the Writers Unlimited International Literature Festival, held throughout The Hague during the third week of January in theaters, libraries, and schools. The festival focuses on live performances of poetry, storytelling, and spoken word. Authors also engage in conversations inspired by their recent books and current themes. In addition, Writers Unlimited hosts monthly Writers Series events in The Hague, bringing together writers, journalists, thinkers, poets, artists, and audiences to exchange literary work, experiences, dreams, and ideas across cultural and linguistic boundaries.\nFor more information, visit Writers Unlimited.\n\nCredits\nHost: Sophia Blyden\nGuest: Simon(e) van Saarloos\nCover...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/ZBlY9zHMLqtPVxo-MrfVRRej5PdHzxJjJVYCUhKNrfI/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS82NGRl/ODAwZDllZDJhMTA4/ZTE2ZDliNjM1Mzkx/MDVmNi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}